Advocates File the Single Market Amendment to Regulate Hemp & Marijuana

Sept. 9, 2025 - Jefferson City - A coalition of advocates filed the Single Market Amendment, an initiative petition to repeal the existing Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution and replace it with a free market regulatory mandate for both marijuana and hemp, benchmarking regulations to how Missouri handles alcohol and tobacco.

“Opposition from marijuana monopoly interests has blocked the pathway for reasonable legislation to regulate hemp,” said lead petitioner Eapen Thampy. “Meanwhile thousands of businesses and their employees face persistent political jeopardy as the marijuana industry corruptly influences the levers of government. The Single Market Amendment seeks to end the monopoly and create a free and regulated market without favoritism.”

“The Article XIV system is broken,” said Inga Selders, policy director for American Shaman. “The process of getting a marijuana business license has been corrupted by out-of-state private equity interests focused on securing monopoly profits. It is time to restore fairness and opportunity for Missourians.”

“Legislative efforts to ban hemp products allow the illegal market to flourish,” said Gary Wiegert, a retired St. Louis City police sergeant. “Regulating these products and preserving legal access to the market ensures public safety by allowing business owners to serve the consumer market instead.”

“Our veteran community is in crisis from many issues like the opioid epidemic, PTSD, and suicidality, and we are in desperate need of effective solutions for relief and recovery including full-spectrum hemp CBD and THC,” said Will Wisner, executive director of the Grunt Style Foundation. “Federally legal hemp products allow us life-saving access to therapeutic options without risking our 2nd Amendment rights, and the Single Market Amendment secures these options for our communities.”

“The Single Market Amendment would fix a number of issues faced by Missourians who use marijuana for medical purposes,” said patient advocate Deb Nash of Canna Answers. “As the existing marijuana market has expanded, patients face challenges including high prices, limited access, and other barriers to the therapies we need.”

“Our position is that marijuana legalization has always been not about getting “high” but to end prohibition against one of the most beneficial plants on earth,” said Tim Gilio, founder of the Missouri Marijuana Legalization Movement. “Our goal is to open up a free and open market to all and prevent a monopoly from encroaching on any benefits of the cannabis plant.”

Press Contact: Eapen Thampy, 573-673-5351, Eapen@GreatStateStrategies.com