Charleston Can't Wait

08/02/2024

Morgan King: "Let's bust three myths around decriminalizing cannabis..."

Debate around the decriminalization of cannabis, or ma*****na, is growing in West Virginia’s capital city council.

07/30/2024

07/24/2024

Pitch in to support Save a Life Day!

07/14/2024

To reduce penalties for simple possession of cannabis for adults, the Sensible Ma*****na Ordinance may go to vote at Charleston City Council on Monday, July 15 or the following City Council meeting on August 5! The ordinance was submitted by petition signed by over 4,300 people in Charleston to introduce cannabis decriminalization to Charleston residents’ 2024 November ballot.

The Sensible Ma*****na Ordinance or Bill No. 8043 would create a new city code for simple possession with penalties as minimal as possible as allowed by the State. The ordinance effectively removes jail time, court fees, and fines for any adult arrested for cannabis possession by the Charleston Police Department.

Dan Heyman with Mountain State Update on WTSQ 88.1FM - The Status Quo interviews lead petition organizer Corey Zinn with Charleston Can’t Wait.

07/08/2024

🍀 Sensible Ma*****na Ordinance will be discussed for the first time publicly today at 5pm in the Ordinance and Rules Committee in Charleston City Hall (AV ROOM #308)! Come listen to support your views on cannabis possession in the city.

About a week ago, we submitted the Charleston people's petition with over 4,300 signatures to put NO FINES & NO TIME FOR CANNABIS on the ballot this November election!

Pending validation of the submitted signatures, the Sensible Ma*****na Ordinance may be on the ballot for Charleston residents this year.

The Sensible Ma*****na Ordinance or Bill No. 8043 would create a new city code for simple possession with penalties as minimal as possible as allowed by the State. The ordinance effectively removes jail time, court fees, and fines for any adult arrested for cannabis possession in Charleston.

The language of the ordinance was modeled after legislation in 30 other cities and towns in neighboring states, and it has withstood constitutional challenge.

According to the City Charter (Sec 89), ballot initiatives allow Charleston residents to introduce to the ballot by petition an ordinance or amendment. For the 2024 general election, at least 1,518 written signatures must be collected—equal to 10% of votes cast in the last Charleston municipal election. The last ballot initiative submitted to Charleston was in 1959.

Charleston Can’t Wait volunteers collected approximately 4,309 signatures from April of 2022 to June of 2024, and they estimate at least 2,028 to be qualified signatures.

“I’m proud of all the teamwork that has gone into petitioning thousands of Charleston residents and people who live and hang out in Charleston,” petition volunteer Corey Zinn said.

“We’ve talked to so many passionate people who couldn’t sign the petition, too, so I feel really confident that these are changes people want to see. A lot of people think this is already the law. We’ve got to stop wasting taxpayers’ money in the courts on these charges and update our cannabis policies to protect the people that they hurt the most,” Zinn said.

In 2023, there were 173 arrests for simple possession of cannabis by the Charleston Police Department, making it the seventh most common reason for arrest in the city.

The Kanawha County Election Center is processing the signatures to determine next steps. If enough signatures are qualified, Charleston City Council will have 30 days to vote on the Sensible Ma*****na Ordinance without alteration. If the City Council doesn’t pass the ordinance, it will be placed on the November ballot for the people of Charleston to decide.

🍀 🍀 🍀

BILLS & CITY CHARTER

Charleston City Council Meetings & Agendas
https://www.charlestonwv.gov/government/meetings-agendas
Bill No. 8043 | Sensible Ma*****na Ordinance (submitted by petition)
https://charlestonwv.portal.civicclerk.com/.../attac.../8206
Bill No. 8039 | To Amend Controlled Substance Provisions in Criminal Code
https://charlestonwv.portal.civicclerk.com/.../attac.../8195
City of Charleston Charter on Ballot Initiative (Sec 89)
https://library.municode.com/wv/charleston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTICH_S89INORVO

FACTS

ACLU of WV - Counties Ranked By Racial Disparity in Ma*****na Arrests in 2018
https://graphics.aclu.org/ma*****na-arrest-report/WV
NORML - WV Ma*****na Arrests
https://norml.org/.../west-virginia-ma*****na-arrests/

06/22/2024

Sign the petition to support the Sensible Ma*****na Ordinance at one of these locations by June 26:

The Folded Leaf Yoga & Wellness Center (1020 Bridge Rd)
- Every day 8am-8:30pm
Mr. Smoke - Kanawha City (4100 MacCorkle Ave SE)
- M-F 8am-2am, Sat 9am-2am, Sun 9am-12am
Mr. Smoke - South Charleston (5151 MacCorkle Ave SW)
- M-Sat 8am-12am, Sun 9am-12am

We just need a few more signatures before the end of June to get the Sensible Ma*****na Ordinance on the ballot for this year’s election. If you are registered to vote in the City of Charleston, your signature can help eliminate jail time, court fees, and fines for the simple possession of cannabis for adults.

Volunteers began petitioning in 2022 for a “ballot initiative” to decriminalize cannabis in the City of Charleston. We’ve collected over 4k signatures from people living and working in the Charleston area! So far, we have verified 1,474 of the minimum 1,518 signatures required for the Sensible Ma*****na Ordinance to be submitted to Charleston City Council for a vote OR to be put on the election ballot for the voters of Charleston to decide!

We are so thankful to everyone who signed the petition and we all hope to see the ordinance in effect soon! Before we submit this initiative, we aim to collect well over the 1,518 signatures required to ensure success by June 26, 2024.

Please sign our petition in person for the Sensible Ma*****na Ordinance to eliminate jail time, court fees, and fines for adult possession of cannabis in Charleston.
If you are a registered voter in the City of Charleston limits, you can sign the petition! If this isn’t you, we plan to continue these initiatives in other communities.

06/05/2024

Reimagine how Charleston City Government works for its people!

At the Democracy Labs Brainstorm for City of Charleston on Thu, June 6 at 5:30pm at the Kanawha County Public Library, we are joining together to do just that.

Gather with folks with a variety of interests to work together on solutions that ensure citizens of Charleston are represented equally. There will be FREE PIZZA and ARTISANAL MOCKTAILS while we discuss how the gears of government could be more representative, more transparent, and more effective!

City Council meetings don't feel accessible to many, people are often frustrated to learn about issues they care about when its too late, and even City Councilors face challenges when ideas enter the system where they too often disappear into thin air.

Some rules for City Council and our City have been in place for centuries that slow us down and keep power from the people. We want to reform the rules so the board is tipped into everyone's favor!

It's not about left or right, we all want the same thing—to be heard and have influence on our policies and spending, to stay informed of what decisions are being discussed, and for ideas to flow smoothly into actions with good checks and balances. And it's not easy.

More about the event here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/839733101380641/

11/30/2023

https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/kanawha-county-wv/manna-meal-brings-back-indoor-dining-in-new-location?utm_source=wowk_app&utm_medium=social&utm_content=share-link

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — Manna Meal has a new home. Officials at the non-profit say they will return to indoor meal services starting Saturday at the former Garne…

11/14/2023

More than 70 people stopped in for the 13th Ward Potluck! Councilor Annie even collected some blankets, hats, gloves, heaters, and food too ♥️

10/24/2023

Dear Chas.,
Hope to see you at the Fall Potluck on Nov. 14. 50/50 raffle. 15+ local partners. Lots of yummy dishes. City issues. Kids activities. Details in comments :)

10/09/2023

Partners for our Fall Potluck: RCCR, Fire Dept, SOAR, Create WV, Heart + Hand, Citizen Climate Lobby, Black Voter Impact... & you