NORML GATHERS SUPPORT FOR MARIJUANA ORDINANCE

The MU chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
is circulating a petition against the Columbia Police Officers Association's
push to repeal Columbia's marijuana ordinance.

In March, CPOA started a petition to repeal the marijuana ordinance.

NORML's petition, which began circulating at the Earth Day Festival two
weeks ago, now has between 100 and 200 signatures, said Amanda Broz, former
president of the MU chapter.

Broz said the petition is an act of opposition to the CPOA's actions.

"Our community supported this change in the law," she said. "It just makes
sense. People don't want police to focus on misdemeanor marijuana crimes."

The ordinance, which passed with 61 percent of the vote in November,
decreased penalties for possession of less than 35 grams of marijuana by
referring cases to municipal court instead of state court. Broz said this is
one of the reasons the ordinance is important.

"It keeps people from having a permanent record that would prevent them from
having certain opportunities," she said.

Broz said NORML would support a compromise with the CPOA, whose main problem
with the ordinance is the inability to treat multiple offenders more harshly
than first-time offenders. The group would support placing a limit on the
number of times a person can be cited each year before the case is referred
to state court.

"The citizens of the community know what's best, and the police should
respect their vote," Broz said.