CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Cheyenne City Council will once again weigh in on local efforts to decriminalize cannabis in Wyoming.
During the Public Service Committee meeting this afternoon, Councilmember Richard Johnson brought forth a resolution requesting that the Governing Body ask lawmakers to reconsider the decriminalization of cannabis and reform the Wyoming Controlled Substance Act.
The resolution was ultimately given a no recommendation from the committee and will head to the council’s Aug. 14 meeting for further deliberation and action.
The decriminalization of cannabis-related crimes is a nationwide movement that has yet to make it to Wyoming’s doorsteps. In 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement, or MORE, Act, which would eliminate criminal penalties for anyone who manufactures, distributes or possesses marijuana in the U.S.
Wyoming is one of four states — alongside Idaho, Kansas and South Dakota — where both recreational and medicinal marijuana use are illegal. It also belongs to a small majority of states that impose fines and jail time for residents who possess less than an ounce of marijuana.
Multiple pro-marijuana bills have made their way into the Legislative Session, but none were passed. House Bill 106 in 2022, for instance, would have decriminalized the adult possession of up to three ounces of cannabis flower, up to 16 ounces of solid-form products — including edibles, ointments and tinctures — 72 ounces of liquids and up to 30 grams of concentrates. House Bill 143 would have established the Wyoming Patient Cannabis Act of 2022, allowing the state to grow and distribute medical marijuana.
In March, Johnson sponsored an ordinance aimed at repealing penalties for marijuana possession in Cheyenne. The ordinance, which failed to pass on second reading, would have prevented police officers from sending drug paraphernalia tickets to the local court. Residents charged with marijuana-related cases would have also been sent to the district or federal court instead of the City Attorney’s Office. Some councilmembers questioned the practicability of the ordinance and said efforts to decriminalize marijuana should be discussed at the state level.
Although the ordinance failed to pass, many community members supported the efforts, Johnson said. According to the resolution, 85% of public comment made during the ordinance spoke in support of decriminalization of cannabis in some form.
“After listening to all the comments [from the ordinance], there was more support to have this done at a statewide issue,” he said during the meeting.
If the city approves the resolution, other municipalities might be encouraged to do the same, Johnson said. Together, they can work with legislatures to get a decriminalization bill passed in the next Legislative Session.
Johnson invited Cheyenne Rep. Daniel Singh to speak on the significance of the resolution. Singh said due to “party politics,” the Legislature has not been able to address any decriminalization bills. If a nonpartisan body like the Cheyenne City Council came forward with a resolution, the legislature would be more inclined to listen.
“If there is a non-partisan body that is able to step up and legitimize the genuine interest of the people, that gives the opportunity for the people who were elected in the legislature to properly do the people’s business,” Singh said during the meeting.
Some committee members expressed their disapproval with the resolution, but agreed to move it forward out of committee so the City Council could discuss it as a whole.
Councilmember Pete Laybourn said he doesn’t believe the city should be involved with any decriminalization efforts.
“I think we’ve basically dealt with this a few month ago,” he said during the meeting. “It is an important issue, but I don’t believe it is a municipal issue, that’s why I’m a no.”
