Missouri Alderwoman Megan Green is introducing an ordinance in St. Louis to prevent the use of city resources to enforce laws prohibiting the use of marijuana. Specifically, the ordinance would: Prohibit city police and other officials from using city resources to enforce marijuana prohibition against adults; and Continue to enforce marijuana prohibition laws against minors and those who provide marijuana to minors. Alderwoman Green said, “We’ve come to a point as a country, and as a city, where…

On April 24, the Missouri House and Senate passed a bill that would eliminate the possibility of jail time for people caught with up to 10 grams of marijuana — at least the first time. The bill, SB 491, was sent to Gov. Jay Nixon for his signature on April 28. He has until May 13 to sign the bill or veto it. [caption id="attachment_7589" align="alignright" width="201"] Gov. Jay Nixon[/caption] Nearly half a million Missouri residents already live in cities, including St. Louis and Columbia, which…

The Board of Aldermen, the law-making body of St. Louis, Missouri, voted 22 to 3 in favor of reducing the penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana in the city to that of a traffic ticket. [caption id="attachment_6260" align="alignright" width="160"] Alderman Shane Cohn[/caption] Introduced earlier this year by Alderman Shane Cohn, the law gives police officers the option to redistribute some marijuana cases to the municipal court system, essentially making a criminal infraction a municipal…

According to the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, Sgt. Gary Wiegert, a 32-year veteran of the St. Louis police force (SLMPD) and former Show-Me Cannabis lobbyist, is suing the department for violating his first amendment rights. [caption id="attachment_6061" align="alignleft" width="249"] Gary Wiegert[/caption] The phrase “lobbyist activities in Jefferson City” did not raise any eyebrows last month when Sgt. Wiegert filled out the necessary forms to work a second job. However, after word of Sgt. Wiegert’s…