PRAISE FOR 'GRASS' - ROOTS EFFORT

Joplin voters won't get a chance to vote on a proposal to
decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

A group of volunteers known as Sensible Joplin organized a petition
drive that fell short of its goal. The group was pushing its
Sensible Sentencing Initiative, which called for reducing sentences
associated with possessing smaller amounts of the illegal drug.

Our editorial board had yet to make a decision on whether to support
the initiative. Initial presentations looked interesting, but the
board wanted to see ballot language before rendering a decision.

The initiative required 4,656 valid signatures of Joplin voters, or
roughly 15 percent, to be placed on the ballot. They only got 4,125
signatures, which puts them at about 13.3 percent.

We commend Sensible Joplin for their efforts and for participating in
our system of government. Volunteers worked within the rules of
Joplin's city charter and spent countless hours in hot and wet
weather collecting signatures.

But we're not so sure blaming the county clerk's office is a good way
to accept defeat.

Kelly Maddy, president of the initiative, said that had voter rolls
been purged regularly, the initiative would have received the
required number of signatures. But County Clerk Bonnie Earl said
voter rolls are purged as much as the law allows.

Volunteers with the group have had two chances to collect enough
signatures on petitions. Both times, volunteers came up short after
the validation process.

Even though Joplin residents didn't actually cast votes for the
measure, it appears that they have already spoken. We should not make
the mistake of confusing voter disinterest with governmental incompetence.