HB 1659 Summary

• Legalizes marijuana possession and use for adults 21+ in Missouri, allowing individuals to possess up to 8 marijuana plants and 16 ounces of usable marijuana at home without a license

• Establishes a regulatory framework where the division of alcohol and tobacco control issues licenses for commercial purchase, sale, manufacturing, production, and delivery of marijuana, marijuana products, and marijuana extracts

• Imposes a 25% excise tax on the first fair market sale of marijuana, with revenue allocated to law enforcement pensions (25%), public education (25%), mental health and substance abuse programs (20%), cities and counties (15%), and higher education (15%)

• Removes marijuana from Schedule I controlled substances and eliminates criminal penalties for expungeable marijuana offenses, allowing individuals convicted of qualifying marijuana offenses to petition courts for expungement of their records

• Permits medical use of marijuana for patients with qualifying conditions upon doctor's advice, prohibits employment and housing discrimination based on marijuana use, and allows home cultivation of marijuana for personal noncommercial use within specified limits