POLL ENCOURAGES MARIJUANA LAW SUPPORTERS

A poll released yesterday paid for by the group hoping to change Columbia's
marijuana laws shows those likely to vote no or yes on Proposition 1 are
about even.

Asked how they would vote on the April 8 ballot issue, about 45 percent of
523 respondents said they would favor the proposal, 40 percent said they
would vote no and 15 percent said they weren't sure. The poll of randomly
selected registered voters had a 5 percent margin of error.

Despite the close numbers, Mark Jones, campaign director for Columbia
Alliance for Patients and Education, or CAPE, is touting the five-point lead.

CAPE paid the Center for Advanced Social Research, which is affiliated with
the University of Missouri School of Journalism, about $2,800 to conduct
the telephone poll from March 18 to March 20.

"Being five points ahead on an issue like this, I'm pretty happy about
that, quite frankly," said Jones, who said he has worked on a number of
other campaigns and has not been paid for his work with CAPE. "I think it
shows that we're on message and our message is appealing to voters."

Columbia police Chief Randy Boehm, who has publicly joined Boone County
Sheriff Ted Boehm and Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Crane in opposition to
Proposition 1, learned of the poll results last night.

"I don't know if I would say I am surprised by them, but I'm disappointed,"
Randy Boehm said. "I've been adamantly opposed to Proposition 1 and have
been trying pretty hard to get the message out on that. I would really hope
the community would not vote for this."

As the campaign nears Election Day, advocates on both sides of the effort
say they will be stepping up their efforts.

This week the Tribune was contacted by staff members of President George W.
Bush's Office of National Drug Control Policy who indicated that a Bush
appointee would be in Columbia on Thursday to discuss how Proposition 1
conflicts with federal laws.

Eve Pearson of Columbia, a vocal opponent of the initiative, said fliers
would be distributed to local Boy Scout troops to "get the word out" and
"quell misinformation" about Proposition 1.

A not-for-profit group based in Jefferson City called Act Missouri is
paying for those flyers along with ads that have appeared in the Tribune
about marijuana and the proposition.

Meanwhile, signs urging passage of Proposition 1 have been cropping up
around town, and Jones said supporters would be doing a "yard-sign blitz"
next week. CAPE is also anticipating large donations from out-of-state
marijuana advocacy activists next week.

Jones said CAPE's strategy in the days leading up to the election will be
to identify supporters, going door to door and making calls to remind those
people to vote.

"I think that we're down to mobilization rather than persuasion," Jones
said. "This is grass roots, elbow grease and sweat work."

The poll informed respondents: "One of the issues on the April 8th ballot
is Proposition 1. This proposition would remove the possibility of a
criminal conviction and jail time for a person who uses marijuana for a
serious medical condition with their doctor's permission. It would also
make possession of one and one quarter ounces or less of marijuana
punishable by a fine rather than an arrest and jail time. If you vote on
April 8th, will you vote for or against it?"

Nearly half of the respondents - 47 percent - were 55 years and older.
Eleven percent were 25 to 34 years old, 15 percent were 35 to 44 years old
and 23 percent were 45 to 54 years old.