UPDATE: Board Bill 132 passed in December 2021 bringing cannabis decriminalization to the City of St. Louis.
Greater St. Louis NORML (GSTL NORML) supports the right of adults to use cannabis legally as a personal choice without repercussions from government or the criminal justice system at the federal, state and local levels.
On October 25, 2017, the 15th Ward Alderwoman Megan Ellyia Green proposed a statutory measure to “prevent the city government from interfering with the safe and responsible use of marijuana in the City of St. Louis.” Board Bill 180 (BB180) represents a major policy change for the City of St. Louis.
GSTL NORML board of directors worked with Alder Green to help formulate this legislation which incorporates the best of cannabis legalization legislation from across the US. BB180 was submitted for consideration to the City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen and was backed by several co-sponsors including Alderman Larry Arnowitz, Alderman Brandon Bosley, Alderman Shane Cohn, Alderman Dan Guenther, Alderwoman Christine Ingrassia, and Alderman Frank Williamson.
The legislation failed to make it to a committee vote after being assigned to the Legislation committee by Alderman President Lewis Reed in the 2018 session. The bill will be introduced again by Alderwoman and now Board of Aldermen Presidential Candidate Green for the 2019 session.
To ensure that BB180 has a fair, unpoliticized chance to become law a Political Action Committee (PAC) has been formed by BB180 supporters to proceed with a ballot initiative. The new PAC called Common Sense St. Louis is actively gathering signatures to put the question before the voters of St. Louis.
The measure eliminates penalties for possession of up to 2.0 ounces of cannabis and cultivation of up to six (6) cannabis plants.
Diverting city resources away from arresting, prosecuting and adjudicating petty cannabis possession will allow the limited resources of law enforcement to focus more on crimes with a victim.
St. Louis City prosecutor, Kim Gardner independently came to the same conclusion that city resources are better spent in her office pursuing crime with real victims rather than prosecuting individuals for petty cannabis possession. She has implemented a limited policy to not prosecute cannabis possession up to 100 grams. The effect of the city’s past policy had African Americans being arrested more than nineteen times the rate of whites when cannabis usage is the same between races. Greater St. Louis NORML supports Gardner’s new policy and will work to implement BB180 which will codify into law a more common sense policy for cannabis possession in St. Louis.
Help GSTL NORML pass BB180 into law with your donation here.