Note: This “Moore to the Point” commentary aired on NewsTalkSTL on Friday, September 23rd. Audio included below.
Louisiana Senator John Kennedy has affectionately been referred to at NewsTalkSTL as “a national treasure.” The man has a cheeky wit and way with words and his unmistakable drawl just adds to the charm. One of my favorite quips of his is: “Somebody at the White House has been smoking the devil’s lettuce.”
Speaking of which, a key issue on November’s ballot in Missouri is Amendment 3 , which would legalize recreational marijuana in the state. I have to admit – I’m a bit torn on this one. While I generally favor legalizing pot – not for my own personal consumption but on principle and as a policy – I am very leery of addressing the issue via constitutional amendment, rather than legislation – or even statutory referendum. Particularly given that the amendment in question is 39 pages long.
I might be naively old school, but I maintain that the constitution (state and/or federal) should be reserved for the barebones framework – a clear, concise statement of government’s limited powers and enshrinement of our rights as citizens. Thus, amendments should be more like 39 words, not pages.
What would the passage of Amendment 3 mean for the State of Missouri? The devil, as they say, is in the details.