Voting time is fast approaching for Missourians. Next month, residents of the “Show-Me State” will be given a chance to vote for medical cannabis legalization in Missouri.

Advocates of cannabis reform will be happy to know that former U.S. Attorney for Kansas, Barry Grissom, is also on their side.

Former federal prosecutor is a proud supporter of cannabis legalization in Missouri

Grissom, who formerly opposed of cannabis legalization in Missouri and beyond, recently spoke out about the federal classification of cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance.

He called it “absurd” and stated that supporters of legal weed were demonstrating patriotic traits since they were defending individual liberty.

“I soon became a true believer that enforcement of cannabis laws was immoral,” the federal prosecutor told an audience at a Kansas-based conference held by the Missouri Cannabis Industry Association. Grissom was designated keynote speaker at the conference.

The former attorney, who was described as an “outspoken, articulate and effective advocate” by Association chairman Dan Viets, assumed the position of U.S. Attorney for Kansas from 2010 to 2016. It was this six-year stint that left Grissom feeling cynical about America’s drug laws.

Missouri voters will decide three ballot measures to legalize medical cannabis

Of the three ballot measures, two would revise the Missouri Constitution and one would legalize cannabis by state statute.

A political party in Saint Charles called “A New Approach Missouri” is actively promoting one of the constitutional amendments for cannabis legalization in Missouri.

Under this amendment, doctors would be empowered to prescribe medicinal-grade weed to patients who have been diagnosed with and require treatment for any of the 10 qualifying conditions. Those conditions include epilepsy, chronic pain, cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

According to the measure, medical cannabis sales would be taxed, with the revenue being funneled into veteran healthcare via the Missouri Veterans Commission.

Licensed physician, surgeon and lawyer Dr. Brad Bradshaw is promoting the second constitutional amendment. This alteration of the constitution would develop a state research institute for the sole purpose of investigating how and what medical cannabis can be used to treat. Tax revenue would also be used for veteran healthcare services.

The third and final ballot measure for cannabis legalization in Missouri is titled the “Missourians for Patient Care Act.”

Proponents of the ballot measure claim it would be simpler to arrange a regulatory framework for medical cannabis under an alterable statute that can be updated at any time, unlike a constitutional amendment, which only becomes alterable when the people vote.

Grissom says cannabis legalization in Missouri is not a partisan issue

Former President Barack Obama was the man who appointed Grissom U.S. Attorney. He says that public support for cannabis legalization has swelled from a mere 12 percent back in 1969 to an incredible 61 percent today.

“I’m going to ride that horse,” were his words when asked about running for elective office.

The pro-pot former prosecutor affirms that cannabis legalization in Missouri is not a sectarian issue. He drew attention to the fact that the electoral vote fell out of Hillary Clinton’s clutches in three legal medical cannabis states, Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota.

Interestingly, Grissom’s passion for pot prompted him to visit the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) office in Washington, before he resigned from his position as U.S. Attorney and offered his help.

Nowadays, Grissom operates in a private practice. He revealed to the many faces staring back at him inside the Crowne Plaza hotel that he is not a cannabis consumer. Nonetheless, Grissom thinks it is poor public policy to prosecute and imprison cannabis consumers by using governmental resources.

Grissom went on to say that cannabis is contributing to job creation and economic power. He also touched upon the topic of banking, drawing attention to the difficulties faced by cannabis companies restricted by laws and regulations that are currently in place.