This afternoon in west central Missouri:

Evidently not a fan of Emporia, Kansas.

Free advertising.

The Rex Sinquefield funded PAC Grow Missouri’s moving billboard at

the University of Central Missouri’s Skyhaven Airport near Warrensburg [file photo].

On starting the initiative petition process for the legalization of marijuana in Missouri (via Facebook):

John W. Payne

13 hrs · St. Louis, MO

In the last 36 hours, I have done interviews with KMOX, the International Business Times, KMOV, Columbia Missourian, KCOU, Saint Louis Public Radio, KTRS, KMBZ, KFVS-12, Kansas City Business Journal, Kansas City Public Radio, and a little newspaper outlet called the Washington Post.

Probably my favorite exchange throughout the whole process was when Jonathan Weir at KMBZ called this morning and right before we went live, he said, “So you guys turned in the petition and now you have some sort of blimp over here. Is that right?”

The libertarians are probably really happy about all that free advertising.

It would be Karma for a St. Louis billionaire’s legacy to consist solely of the state of Missouri populated in the near and distant future by undereducated stoners working minimum wage jobs.

That’s a feature, not a bug, right?

Previously:

Not so fast on grounding that blimp… (November 6, 2014)

“…We smiled and waved, sittin’ there on that sack of seeds.” (September 20, 2014)

It looks like I took to Twitter too soon:

Michael Bersin ‏@MBersin

To make the astroturf PAC mailings and TV ads stop. Plus, I want to ground the blimp. #WhyImVoting

5:22 AM – 4 Nov 2014

The first proposed initiative petition for the 2016 election cycle is:

2016-001

Submitted by:

Dan Viets

Show-Me Cannabis Regulation

15 N. 10th Street

Columbia, MO 65201

[….]

Be it resolved by the people of the state of Missouri that the Constitution be amended:

One new section is adopted to be known as Article I, section 36 and to read as follows:

35(a) 1. Citizens over the age of twenty-one years shall have the right to engage in the production, sale, distribution, and consumption of marijuana and the manufacture of goods from hemp….

[….]

The Rex Sinquefield funded PAC Grow Missouri’s moving billboard at

the University of Central Missouri’s Skyhaven Airport near Warrensburg [file photo].

Bring back the blimp!  

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C091068 10/13/2014 HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, INC Grow Missouri 308 E High Street Suite 301 Jefferson City MO 65101 10/11/2014 $45,000.00

[emphasis added]

republicans in the Missouri General Assembly have a very wealthy friend with an air force.

Previously:

“…We smiled and waved, sittin’ there on that sack of seeds.” (September 20, 2014)

The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys (October 1, 2014)

Follow the blimp, then check the area for concentrations of hot air… (October 11, 2014)

The Rex Sinquefield funded PAC Grow Missouri’s moving billboard at

the University of Central Missouri’s Skyhaven Airport near Warrensburg [file photo].

In the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

‘Grow More’ public listening events not so public

By Alex Stuckey

JEFFERSON CITY • Missourians who spot a 200-foot-long blimp over their city may wonder about the hashtag “#GrowMo” splashed on its side.

If not for the “Create a Great State” slogan penned above it, onlookers might think it’s an advertisement for Grow More, which advocates for legalizing marijuana in Missouri – and shares the same hashtag.

But it’s not. The blimp promotes a statewide listening tour put on by Grow Missouri, a group backed by wealthy investor Rex Sinquefield. The group’s website asks people to share their ideas on how to “Create a Great State.” It also asks visitors to “come to events.”

When and where those events are held is anyone’s guess – and some of them aren’t open to the public….

Seriously, is anyone surprised?

Previously:

“…We smiled and waved, sittin’ there on that sack of seeds.” (September 20, 2014)

The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys (October 1, 2014)