By Dan Viets, J.D., Show-Me Cannabis Board Chair
The Columbia City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on the proposed Columbia marijuana cultivation ordinance at its meeting on the evening of Monday, October 20, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the City Building on the northwest corner of the intersection of 8th and Broadway in downtown Columbia. If you live in Columbia or nearby, please plan to attend that meeting to show your support for this proposal.
As you may know, the Columbia Board of Health and Substance Abuse Advisory Commission have both recommended against passing the ordinance. However, Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe has made several changes in the proposed ordinance in response to those criticisms. The ordinance now covers the cultivation of no more than two plants. Further, the plants must be grown indoors in a locked area. Therefore, the ordinance before the Council on October 20 is a substantially different ordinance from the one those groups considered.
Indeed, the proposed amendments have been endorsed and supported by the Columbia/Boone County League of Women Voters, Columbia Daily Tribune, the Columbia NAACP, the Central Missouri Chapter of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare, the Missouri Civil Liberties Association and the Boone County Libertarians. The Columbia Human Rights Commission acknowledged that there is a serious problem with racial discrimination in the enforcement of such laws. Then, last Thursday, the Columbia Disabilities Commission voted to endorse the revised proposal.
Please take time to email the Mayor and members of the Columbia City Council.
- Mayor Bob McDavid: [email protected]
- Councilmember Ginny Chadwick: [email protected]
- Councilmember Michael Trapp: [email protected]
- Councilmember Karl Skala: [email protected]
- Councilmember Ian Thomas: [email protected]
- Councilmember Laura Nauser: [email protected]
- Councilmember Barbara Hoppe: [email protected]
Obviously, Barbara, who sponsors the ordinance, will support it. Michael Trapp has also reaffirmed his support for the ordinance. Ian Thomas previously stated that he would support it, but his support may have softened since the two citizen boards expressed their opposition. Ginny Chadwick stated in a public forum during her campaign that she would support the ordinance, but again, I fear that her support may have softened since that time. It is very important that ALL members of the Council hear from as many people as possible urging them to support Barbara’s proposed ordinance. Please take time now to send those email messages and plan to attend the Columbia City Council meeting on the evening of Monday, October 20. If you have any specific questions or concerns, please send me an email at [email protected].
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