The Keeping Missouri Kids Safe Coalition held a press conference Wednesday morning in the Capitol Rotunda, expressing the group's opposition toward state efforts to legalize medical marijuana.
At the conference, coalition supporters shared personal stories and anti-legalization arguments.
Max Roberts, an 18-year-old student, opened the event by sharing his personal experience with marijuana, which he said provoked his development of social anxiety.
Roberts was followed by cancer survivor Monica Hackett.
"Marijuana is not medicine," she said. "It has more than 400 chemical compounds, and as a cancer survivor, I certainly would not like to light it on fire, suck it into my lungs and call it medicine."
Jason Grellner, a representative from the Missouri Narcotics Officer Association and Amy Fite, the Christian County prosecuting attorney, also spoke.
The coalition argues legalization of marijuana for medical purposes would naturally lead to its legalization for recreational use. This statewide decriminalization would increase crime rates, affecting children the most, they say.
"We do not legislate medicine; we have a process for that. That's what makes this a little bit unique," Fite said after the conference, distinguishing the way in which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves new medicines from the process by which some wish to legislate marijuana use.
"We believe very strongly in the FDA's process," said Bridget Klotz, a representative to Missouri's branch of Smart Approaches to Marijuana. "Is it always perfect? No. But you know what, it's better than anything we've got."
There are already many legal alternatives to medical marijuana that have been tested and certified by the FDA, Klotz said.
Both women also doubted the efficacy of medical marijuana.
"There is no organization that indicates that the smoking of marijuana has a medical benefit to anyone, so the idea that there is a medicinal purpose to smoking marijuana is misplaced," Fite said.
"Smoking anything is a crude and dirty delivery system. That's why we don't smoke any other medicines," Klotz said.
This legislative session, the Missouri House of Representatives has seen at least 11 proposed bills or joint resolutions involving cannabis possession or use. The Missouri Senate has seen at least seven.
A few of those bills and joint resolutions are:
• House Bill 1524, which would allow the forgiveness of previous marijuana convictions if the drug were ever legalized in Missouri. The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee hearing.
• House Bill 2338, which would allow anyone 21 years or older to legally possess up to one pound or marijuana in most circumstances. The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee hearing.
• House Bill 2625, which would allow medical marijuana use for the treatment of some serious conditions. The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee hearing.
• House Joint Resolution 57 proposes a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana use for anyone 21 years or older. No committee hearing has been assigned.
• Senate Joint Resolution 29 proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow the licensing of those growing marijuana for medical use. No committee hearing has been assigned.