After more than a year of negotiations with city officials, and countless hours cultivating support for a ballot measure aimed at decriminalizing certain amounts of marijuana, members of Kansas City NORML will finally have a chance to hear from voters on the issue. Next Tuesday, April 4, 2017, Kansas City voters will weigh in on Question 5. If approved, the measure will amend local laws regarding the possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana for adults age 21 and older from a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, to a civil offense punishable by a $25 fine — no arrest made or criminal record imposed.
“The main objective of this initiative is to eliminate jail time and reduce the current penalties for marijuana possession in our city. By voting Yes on 5, individuals caught possessing 35 grams or less of marijuana or marijuana products shall receive a maximum fine of $25,” said Jamie Kacz, executive director of Kansas City NORML. “We have received an outpouring of support from voters across Kansas City who are ready for change and no longer want to see their loved ones suffer for marijuana possession.”
A recent poll by Remington Research Group revealed that 56% of likely Kansas City voters currently support Question 5. With less than a week before polling locations are scheduled to open, this is certainly encouraging news for proponents of the measure.
“This is promising because the survey was done using landlines, which means that it was likely an older demographic weighing in on the issue,” added Jessica Kelly, who serves on the Board of Directors for Kansas City NORML. “Typically, younger demographics tend to vote in favor of marijuana reform, so this shows a good chance of the initiative passing with the support of both older and younger demographics.”
If passed by voters, Kansas City will join a growing list of cities around the country that have adopted a more pragmatic approach for dealing with marijuana-related offenses on the local level. Houston, Memphis, Nashville, Tampa, Orlando, Milwaukee, Monona, Toledo, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and several others have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
For more updates on Question 5 or local reform efforts, follow KC NORML by visiting their website and on Facebook and Twitter! Additionally, you can click here to find your polling location.
Doesn’t say if this is Kansas or Missouri…or both…
I understand that decriminalizing marijuana is a step in the right direction making it $25 fine shows that it’s no big deal, why not just legalize it for adult use? Although the $25 fine it’s no big deal you can still lose your job if you test positive at work, and that will ruin lives. Please do not just read these articles share them with your friends who are on aware of norml and what they are trying to do. Let’s start pushing for full legalization by getting everyone involved. Please tell two friends today and ask them to do the same.
What the Hell? I realize Im a pretty obvious and reliable poster on this blog for Texas, and whatever you miss Im glad to add, but why not include a major city with a population of 2.2 million people like Houston on your City-Decrim list?
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2017/03/01/houston-decriminalizes-pot-hope-dallas-paying-attention
This was pretty big news.
Allow me to answer myself: NORML is understaffed, underfunded and NEEDS our support RIGHT NOW! Donate, yes, whenever and wherever we can. But we also need to contribute by educating eachother INCLUDING EDUCATING OUR CONGRESSMAN. We don’t have to be condescending, like I often portray myself, (unfortunately); we can just help each other out by posting FACTS, Copying links to our Congressman with peer-reviewed scientific studies regarding the medical efficacy of cannabis,(available on this web site with links to PubMed) Writing and calling our Congressman and by contributing before we ask what we get in return. Even as I have the wisdom to write this, we ALL FORGET. Let’s remind eachother who and what we are doing this for… legalizing marijuana… because it’s easier to criticize than it is to contribute.
The main objective of this initiative is to eliminate jail time and reduce the current penalties for marijuana possession in our city. It will help. Good initiative.
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