Residents push to recall Columbia councilwoman

Columbia First Ward constituents are crying foul after their council member, Ginny Chadwick, voted against decriminalizing the cultivation of marijuana in Columbia. Chadwick’s constituents said that’s not what she said she would do and now they’re pushing to recall her from City Council.

After a no vote from Chadwick Monday, the marijuana cultivation ordinance failed to pass with a four to three vote and now a growing number of her constituents say they want her out. “She said that she would support this ordinance that Barbara Hoppe proposed in November, and that is one of theissues that got her elected in this district and she went against it,” said Jake Loft.

Chadwick said when she first spoke out about the ordinance, she didn’t understand the nuances. She said she is for decriminalizing marijuana but the ordinance had too many holes in it to support.

The ordinance would have made it legal to grow two marijuana plants in Columbia city limits. However, growing and smoking marijuana is illegal at the federal level and in most states, including Missouri. Chadwick said legalizing the growing of marijuana in Columbia doesn’t fit into the existing framework in which area police must enforce federal and state laws. “During the board of health and substance abuse advisory commission meeting it become very clear that was in conflict with our state and federal laws and so as a municipality we were really creating a law that we didn’t have the authority to implement,” said Chadwick

Those speaking out against Chadwick said their goal is to replace her with a council member who more closely represents the constituents. They will start circulating the petition Nov. 1 and hope to have it on next year’s ballot.