SPONSOR: Aune
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Emerging Issues by a vote of 13 to 0.
This bill provides that a medical marijuana patient cannot be excluded from family court participation, including as a term or condition of successful completion, based solely on participation in Missouri's medical marijuana program. An individual's status as a qualified medical marijuana patient cannot be used to restrict or abridge custodial or parental rights to minor children in any family court proceeding.
This bill is the same as SB 357 (2021) and similar to HB 2723 (2020).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill protects Missourians who want to adopt or foster children, but also those who are fighting for custody. The bill ensures that family courts do not take adverse action against individuals who are treating medical conditions. Missourians should not be discriminated against because they are lawfully addressing illness.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Aune; Amy Schaefer; Brett Alexander Gustin; Christine Bench; Darby Cook, Missouri Cannabis Clinic; Jacqueline A. Gorman-Sortland; Jamie P. Kacz; Jessica Kelly; John William Defoor; Laurie V. Snell; NORML KC; Paul Mark Mcnary; Rori Defoor; Steven Faber; Tom Robbins, Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association; Arnie C. Dienoff; Christine Hyman; Dan Viets; Julita Latimer, NORML KC; Nicholas Cerbone; Nick Jordan; Taylor Anderson Macmann; Timothy Ignatius Schnieders; and Alyssa Stevens.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: