PETITION SUBMITTED FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A University of Iowa student wants Iowa City officials to approve the
medicinal use of marijuana.

George Pappas, co-founder of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, submitted a
petition with more than 2,800 signatures to the city clerk's office Friday.
At least 2,500 signatures were needed for the petition to be official.

Officials with the clerk's office said the city has 20 days to certify the
petition. Once that happens, the City Council must either adopt the
proposal or place it on the ballot for a public vote, officials said.

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