Pubdate: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO) Copyright: 2005 Columbia Daily Tribune Contact: http://www.columbiatribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/91 Note: Prints the street address of LTE writers. Author: Josh Flory Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) SENATOR PULLS ANTI-COLUMBIA MEASURE Schools Group Vows to Discourage Pot Use. A bill to ban high school sports tournaments in Columbia has gone up in smoke. Sen. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, yesterday said he's reached an agreement with the sponsor of legislation targeting Columbia's marijuana ordinances. Sen. Chuck Gross, R-St. Charles, introduced the bill that would have banned high school tournaments in cities with marijuana policies such as those adopted in Columbia. Last November, city voters approved ordinances allowing the use of marijuana prescribed for medical purposes and limiting the punishment for possessing small amounts of marijuana to a $250 fine in municipal court. Gross said high school athletes might think if they smoke dope in Columbia, the penalties would be less than in other cities. During an afternoon news conference at the headquarters of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, Graham said Gross agreed to sit on the bill after the two senators helped the MSHSAA craft a letter clarifying Columbia's law. The association recently sent letters to schools participating in this month's high school basketball championships, informing them that "use or possession of marijuana remains illegal, and the new ordinances merely modified the potential penalties." In a news release, Gross said he won't pursue passage of the bill. "My intent has always been to make sure that the kids coming to Columbia are safe and that they know that it's not OK to use marijuana," he said. The bill had sparked opposition from ordinance supporters and from Columbia business leaders who said high school athletics tournaments are an economic boon to the city. MSHSAA Executive Director Becky Oakes said tournaments in the city generate about $3 million in economic activity. This week the Class 1, 2 and 3 boys and girls basketball championships are being held at Mizzou Arena. Gross' bill had not been voted on and was considered unlikely to pass by some observers, but it received a committee hearing in February. Graham said the fact that the bill received a hearing indicated that Gross was serious about it. "There's lots of bills that I think aren't going to get anywhere, and all of a sudden they get a life of their own," Graham said. - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFLorida)