JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A PAC that advocates for the legalization of medical cannabis has taken sides in the ongoing feud between Sen. Rob Schaaf and Gov. Eric Greitens, and it’s not the side one might expect.
The Better Way Missouri PAC posted on their social media page an ad asking Schaaf to “end his obstructionist agenda.” The social media posting echoes what Greitens’ political nonprofit, A New Missouri Inc., did last week by urging people to call Schaaf to stop his filibuster regarding managed care in the Senate
However, where New Missouri listed Schaaf’s personal cell phone in their initial ads, Better Way Missouri listed his legislative work phone on theirs.
After those ads, Schaaf seems intent to fight against dark money efforts like New Missouri, which can take in unlimited money without disclosing their donors.
Joshua Lee, a spokesman for Better Way Missouri, said Schaaf’s filibusters would obstruct important business in the Senate.
“This obstruction of all other business at the expense of an ethics bill means legislation that could save lives now will have no chance of passage,” Lee said. “If Sen. Schaaf truly supports access to medical cannabis he will do everything he can to get this to the Governor’s desk and that includes standing down on his dark money fight.”
Yet, Schaaf has been open to medical cannabis policies and proposals. For the last two years, Schaaf has offered legislation to allow for the use of medical cannabis to assist people suffering from a host of serious illnesses from HIV/AIDS to cancer and arthritis to spinal cord damages.
Lee says Schaaf’s ultimatum on dark money has “destroyed his credibility as a sponsor of medical cannabis.”
“People with terminal illnesses generally don’t have another year to wait for the Missouri General Assembly to take this legislation up again,” he said.
Currently, the only medical cannabis bill with a chance of passing through the Senate before the end of session is Rep. Jim Neely’s HB 437, which does essentially the same thing as Schaaf’s bill. Neely’s bill has passed out of the House Health and Mental Health Policy and Rules-Administrative Oversight Committees, but has not yet been debated on the floor.
Schaaf was not available for comment as of the publishing of this article.
