Title:
Springfield city council repeals ordinance, democracy
Message:
Last night the Springfield city council voted to repeal an ordinance that reduced the penalty for possessing a small amount of marijuana. In so doing, they also repealed the right of Springfield citizens to vote.
Here’s how it happened: after activists fairly collected the required number of signatures to put the proposal on the November ballot, the council decided to pass the ordinance and save the city the cost of printing the ballots. Soon after, though, four members voiced their support for repealing the ordinance entirely. After more than 100 supporters showed up to voice their support for the law, the council last night ignored their wishes and repealed the ordinance. In other words, they denied Springfield citizens their legitimate right to determine public policy via the initiative process. Outrageous.
The petitioners from Show Me Cannabis Regulation who gathered the signatures are assessing their options now. In the meantime, one reason the councilmembers repealed the ordinance was their feeling that it conflicted with state law. You can help solve that problem by asking your elected officials to support making marijuana possession a civil, “fine only” offense in Missouri. Maybe with a second chance they can get it right.
