by Matt Ankney
Every single Missourian owns an equal share of each and every state park, no matter where that park is located. The mining industry and their corrupt political allies controlled by lobbyists using secret legal bribes called “dark money” plan on ruining the scenic, undeveloped areas around our most popular parks like Hawn for their precious financial profit by permanently destroying arable farmland and crucial Shortleaf pine forest habitat for wildlife like Bald eagles, Wild turkey and Whitetail deer.
Missouri voters approved the legalization of recreational cannabis in our most recent statewide election last November. The Republican Party controlling Missouri in a political super majority was against the popular referendum that ultimately won. Representatives on the state level would have never legalized cannabis use for all adults similar to alcohol no matter how hard the public asked. The voting public was eventually forced to by-pass our unresponsive elected officials who take campaign donations from special interest groups aligned against adult choice, favoring a continued failed prohibition.
Missourians approved of marijuana twice in the short span of four years, once in a statewide referendum in 2018 for medical marijuana, and once for recreational marijuana in 2022. Citizens across Missouri organized; gathering signatures form registered voters during holidays and festivals featuring large crowds like the St. Louis Dogtown St. Partrick’s Day Parade and downtown around Busch Stadium before and after Cardinals baseball games.
Using the same formula, this could be easily replicated. Voters could decide on a new law protecting our shared public lands like state parks, not allowing proposed mines to be within a certain range of public property and the mostly rural residents nearby who enjoy living free from industrial air pollution, destructive highway enlargements removing families from their roadside homes using eminent domain, unregulated noise and light pollution, and the depletion and permanent contamination of the area’s underground water supply, which would end the thriving, popular winery business in Ste. Genevieve County forever.
Matt Ankney is an outdoor photographer, wilderness guide, and founder of SAVE HAWN!.
SAVE HAWN! Facebook group link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/574100270609091/