The City of St. Louis has decriminalized petty possession and cultivation of cannabis with a stroke of Mayor Tishaura Jones’ pen as she placed her signature on Board Bill 132 (BB132), Monday, December 13, 2021.
The measure was passed unanimously by the St. Louis Board of Alderman November 23, 2021 and delivered to the Mayor’s desk for approval.
It is now legal to possess up to two (2) ounces of cannabis, including cannabis paraphernalia, and cultivate up to six (6) flowering cannabis plants in the city.
BB132 also constricts law enforcement from using the smell of marijuana, whether raw or burnt, or the visual presence of marijuana smoke or vapor, as a probable cause to search, seize, or arrest any individual or search an individual’s property.
Protections against asserting “probable cause” are also extended to the visual presence of paraphernalia and in the situation where an officer observes up to six flowering cannabis plants at a private residence. The officer would not have the authority to proceed with a criminal investigation for marijuana.
“We are seeing a major shift in the way our country sees not just marijuana, but how it connects to public safety, incarceration, and economic opportunity in our communities,” Mayor Tishaura Jones (D) said at the signing ceremony. “This law will help reduce racial disparities in our policing, make our city safer and make St. Louis more competitive in hiring for city positions.”
Alderman Bret Narayan (D), was the sponsor of BB132. He stated it’s “rare that we see so many people from so many different backgrounds unite around a single cause, which is exactly what we have done here,” in a quote reported by Marijuana Moment.
While Greater St. Louis NORML fully supports Alderman Narayan’s legislation, the language of BB132 is nearly identical to BB180 authored by Alderwoman Megan Greene with input from Greater St. Louis NORML in 2017. BB180 did not pass.
The results of our efforts paved the way for the passage of BB193 authored by Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed. Greater St. Louis NORML members suggested that St. Louis marijuana law should emulate the results of Question 5 passed in Kansas City.
NORML KC’s initiative petition successfully passed by more than a 73% approval in early 2018. Question 5 legislation eliminated jail time for petty amounts of cannabis up to 35 grams and capped the penalty at $25.00.
Activities in St. Louis that will remain criminalized include providing marijuana to underage people, possessing excess cannabis, and selling marijuana at a property that prohibits it. Public consumption of marijuana will not be allowed.