STATE APPROVES LEGAL POT PETITION LANGUAGE

The day their petition language was approved, organizers hoping to
legalize marijuana visited a Lincoln restaurant.

They were there for food, not signatures.

"But we had the petitions at the table, and one by one and two by
two, the entire staff came up to us, and then people out of the
kitchen," said Len Schropfer, a member of the Nebraska Cannabis
Coalition. "There's a great wave of enthusiasm."

As well as a great number of signatures left to gather to get their
unprecedented plan on the November 2012 ballot.

The exact number isn't yet known, but it's likely to be more than
112,000: The group must get signatures from 10 percent of registered
voters at the time the petition is due -- in this case, July 6, 2012.

On Friday, the number of voters stood at 1,123,468, according to the
secretary of state's office.

The coalition also needs to hit the road; state law requires the
signatures be collected from 5 percent of registered voters in 38 counties.

Schropfer, a Fillmore County farmer, wasn't worried. Early response
has been strong -- he collected about 30 signatures Thursday at a
bluegrass concert in Stransky Park and met several potential circulators.

And he was still excited the secretary of state's office recently
approved the petition language for the Nebraska Marijuana
Legalization Initiative. The initiative was written and sponsored by
Holbrook lawyer Frank Shoemaker.

"We think it's big news," Schropfer said. "We're the first state to
attempt to completely legalize cannabis."

The measure -- if it makes it to the ballot and voters approve it --
would allow personal marijuana use for any reason. And it would allow
the state to regulate -- and tax -- the commercial marijuana trade.

"We're not pushing marijuana. We believe we have the freedom to use
cannabis just as people have the freedom to use alcohol."

The group is still organizing its effort, but it plans to hit as many
county fairs as possible -- and it will concentrate on the Nebraska State Fair.

Especially Sept. 4.

"We do plan a big appearance at the Willie Nelson concert."