Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative

November 30th, 2005 | Posted in » In the News...

A new initiative petition regarding stem cell research was approved for circulation recently in Missouri. Should the initiative garner enough signatures, it will go to voters in 2006.

The official ballot title (from http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006petitions/06init_pet.asp#200608) follows:

OFFICIAL BALLOT TITLE AS CERTIFIED BY
SECRETARY OF STATE
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to allow and set limitations on stem cell research, therapies, and cures which will:

• ensure Missouri patients have access to any therapies and cures, and allow Missouri researchers to conduct any research, permitted under federal law;
• ban human cloning or attempted cloning;
• require expert medical and public oversight and annual reports on the nature and purpose of stem cell research;
• impose criminal and civil penalties for any violations; and
• prohibit state or local governments from preventing or discouraging lawful stem cell research, therapies and cures?

The proposed constitutional amendment would have an estimated annual fiscal impact on state and local governments of $0-$68,916.

Sounds great, huh? We’re going to allow Missourians access to any therapies or cures stem-cell research provides, allow research in Missouri permitted by federal law, ban human cloning, small financial impact to the state, etc…. All motherhood and apple pie, huh?

Better check out the entire text (http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006petitions/ppStemCell.asp).

A couple things I noticed when reading the entirety of the text:

• Embryonic stem cell research is allowed, with limited restrictions (basically just whatever federal restrictions are in existance… anything allowed by federal law can occur).
• Research involving somatic cell nuclear transfer is NOT prohibited. This is a fancy way of saying that cloning cells is allowed. The prohibitions on cloning are solely in regard to actually implanting anything in the uterus in an attempt to initiate pregnancy. In a nutshell… you can clone all the embryos you want, so long as you’re using them for research and not trying to grow a baby.
• It allows for the destruction of existing embryos awaiting implantation (assuming that they are donated and federal law allows it).

Don’t be fooled by the spin in the ballot initiative… this is NOT as benign as proponents want you to believe!