PETITION CALLS FOR LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

A University of Iowa student filed a petition Friday calling for the Iowa
City Council to approve an ordinance that would legalize use of marijuana
for medical purposes.

George Pappas, co-founder of Student for Sensible Drug Policy, turned in a
petition with more than 2,800 signatures before Friday's 5 p.m. deadline.
At least 2,500 signatures are required.

The city has 20 days to certify the petition. When a petition has been
certified, the council must either adopt the proposal or place it on the
ballot, according to the city clerk's office.

The initiative of the petition is intended to ensure "patients, for whom
marijuana has been recommended by a physician, suffer no punishment or
penalty for obtaining, possessing and or using medicinal marijuana and or
paraphernalia used to consume medicinal marijuana."