www.arkansasalliance.org
Pubdate: Sat, 30 Aug 2008
Source: Morning News, The (Springdale, AR)
Copyright: 2008 The Stephens Media Group
Contact:  http://www.nwaonline.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/835
Author: Skip Descant, The Morning News
Cited: Sensible Fayetteville http://www.sensiblefayetteville.com
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

MARIJUANA BALLOT QUESTION AWAITS SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION

FAYETTEVILLE -- A ballot petition to have marijuana arrests and 
convictions as a "low priority" by law enforcement and prosecutors 
may make its way to the voters this November.

The group Sensible Fayetteville collected 900 more names to add to a 
petition which already had the signatures of 3,385 registered 
Fayetteville voters, said Ryan Denham, an organizer for Sensible 
Fayetteville. It takes 3,686 voters to move the initiative to the 
ballot. When supporters of the measure turned in their first set of 
signatures Aug. 20, they were 310 names away from the mark.

"We have collected close to 900 gross signatures and are confident we 
at least have 301 valid," said Denham, who turned in the final set of 
signatures to city hall Friday. Officials in the Fayetteville City 
Clerk's office will begin verifying the signatures next week. The 
measure will appear on November ballots if the 3,686 valid signature 
mark is met.

The drive by Sensible Fayetteville to put the marijuana issue to 
voters began in November 2007. If the "Lowest Law Enforcement and 
Prosecutorial Priority Policy Ordinance" passes, Fayetteville police 
and prosecutors will be required to treat adult marijuana possession 
offenses as a low priority.

Further, the measure requires the city clerk to send an annual letter 
to state and federal legislators, governor, and president stating: 
"The citizens of Fayetteville have passed an initiative to 
de-prioritize adult marijuana offenses, where the marijuana is 
intended for personal use, and request that the federal and Arkansas 
state governments take immediate steps to enact similar laws."

Getting the extra signatures needed was not difficult, said Denham.

"The majority signed because they agreed with the initiative," 
remarked Denham, adding getting "over the hump" or being part of the 
democratic process were not the top concerns among signers. "We had 
visitors from neighboring counties come to take literature and 
support our effort."

Eureka Springs is the only other Arkansas city to support such a 
ballot measure. Similar laws have been passed by communities in 
Missouri, Montana, Washington, California and Colorado. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake