GROUPS CALL FOR VOTE ON POT LAWS

Several Columbia groups are joining forces to try to change local marijuana laws.

Headed by Columbia Alliance for Patients and Education, these groups are circulating two petitions in the city.  One petition favors legalizing medicinal marijuana, and the other proposes changes to sentencing laws for possession of marijuana.

One of the groups assisting CAPE is MU NORML, a chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

"We have separated the issues of medical marijuana and smart sentencing this year so that people can clearly voice their opinion by voting on each issue separately," MU NORML President Amanda Broz said.

Smart sentencing, as the petition calls it, would change the current law and make possession of marijuana a municipal violation rather than a state crime.

Other groups involved in the petitions are MU Students for Sensible Drug Policy and MU American Civil Liberties Union.

In 2003, Columbians voted down Proposition 1, which combined these initiatives, 55 percent to 45 percent.

Although the proposition failed, the Columbia Police Department changed its policy shortly after the election.  First time offenders with a small amount of marijuana could be tried in municipal court instead of state courts.

"We were planning on changing our laws before Proposition 1, but we found inconsistencies," Columbia Police Chief Randy Boehm said.  "The law needed to be further defined, not changed."

The groups' initiative of creating a smart sentencing petition calls for adults arrested for a misdemeanor amount of marijuana - 35 grams or less - to be fined or given community service hours instead of jail time.  According to the petition, the maximum fine would be $250, and all trials would be referred to the Municipal Prosecuting Attorney.

One reason behind the petition is that some students can be denied federal funding for college if they are charged with possession of marijuana

"There are many students at MU, Stephens and Columbia College that receive financial aid from the government," Broz said.  "These students realize that they and their fellow classmates can be denied this financial aid for something as small as being caught with a marijuana cigarette."

According to the medical marijuana initiative petition, its purpose is to ensure patients receive no punishment or penalty for using medicinal marijuana and/or paraphernalia used to consume medicinal marijuana if recommended by a physician.

"We should be sympathetic to patients and defend their right to use an effective medicine without suffering any penalty," Broz said.  "These patients are not hurting anyone; they are just trying to find some relief from their illness."

Boehm said he thinks activists have an ulterior motive.

"These petitions are attempts to legalize marijuana and send the wrong message to the community," he said.

Junior Angela Brown said she supports the petitions.

"Smart sentencing seems good," Brown said.  "People might as well do something good for the community instead of getting jail time, which the community has to pay for."

The groups need to collect 2,276 signatures to place the issue on the November ballot.  Only registered Columbia voters can sign the petitions.  Students can sign at upcoming events such as the Sunday Night Blues Jam at 5 p.m.  Sunday at Mojo's, 1013 Park Ave.  Petitions also will be available at a showing of marijuana-related movies at 8 p.m.  Thursday in Waters Auditorium and at the Columbia Twilight Festival in June.