Pubdate: Wed, 09 Apr 2003
Source: Kansas City Star (MO)
Copyright: 2003 The Kansas City Star
Contact:  http://www.kcstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221
Author: Shashank Bengali
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project ( www.mpp.org )
Cited: Drug Policy Alliance ( www.drugpolicy.org )
Cited: Office of National Drug Control Policy ( www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov )

VOTERS IN COLUMBIA REJECT MEASURE TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Despite the eager efforts of some college students, a measure to legalize 
medicinal marijuana in Columbia failed Tuesday by a margin of 58 percent to 
42 percent.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, the measure, backed by a 
University of Missouri-Columbia student group, failed on a vote of 10,075 
to 7,348.

In another mid-Missouri election, voters in the Hallsville School District 
northeast of Columbia resoundingly opposed a tax levy to fund a school 
football program.

The marijuana measure, thought to be the first of its kind in Missouri or 
Kansas, would have allowed seriously ill Columbia residents to use 
marijuana if a doctor recommended it. It also would have significantly 
reduced the penalties for being caught with less than 35 grams of the drug 
within the city limits.

Most minor marijuana crimes would have been punished with municipal fines, 
shielding offenders from criminal prosecution and potential jail time, 
which can jeopardize a student's eligibility for federal financial aid.

Columbia officials had argued that the ordinance would increase marijuana 
use and conflict with Missouri law, which makes possession of less than 35 
grams a misdemeanor punishable by, at most, one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Officials also said most minor marijuana cases already were settled in 
Municipal Court and that the ordinance would take away discretion from 
local authorities.

Under Proposition 1, which was placed on the ballot by petition, fines for 
possessing less than 35 grams would have ranged from $25 for a first 
offense to $500 for a fourth or subsequent offense.

"We're obviously a long shot to pull this out," Anthony Johnson, 25, the MU 
law student who wrote the measure, said Tuesday before the final tally was 
announced. "But we've already had a victory...in showing that a group of 
young, dedicated people can make their voices heard."

Medical marijuana use is legal in nine states and several municipalities 
nationwide, but not in Missouri or Kansas.

The measure gained national attention from both sides of the marijuana 
debate. The Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project contributed 
$10,000, and the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance also pledged several 
thousand dollars to the campaign, which included phone banks, advertising 
and polling.

Opponents of the proposition were less organized and not as well funded. 
But they scored a coup last week when an administrator with the White 
House's Office of National Drug Control Policy came to Columbia to speak 
out against marijuana use.

Voters in the Hallsville School District rejected a proposed one-time, 
65-cent property tax levy 72 percent to 28 percent.

Opponents of the measure in the 1,200-student district decried its timing 
- -- during an economic slump, when the state was withholding $61 million 
from public schools to balance the current budget.

Supporters said football enjoyed widespread backing among students, and 
that fan interest would help sustain the program after the initial start-up 
costs, including equipment, locker rooms, bleachers and lights for the 
playing field.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom