CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON POT-POSSESSION PENALTIES

The Columbia City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on an ordinance that
would lessen the penalty for having small quantities of marijuana. A group
seeking to decriminalize possesion of small amounts of marijuana gathered
enough signatures on an initiative petition to ensure that their proposed
measure will be voted on by the council. If the council does not pass the
ordinance, it will be submitted to voters on April 8, City Manager Ray Beck
said. The proposed ordinance would direct all people charged with possessing
35 grams of marijuana or less to municipal court instead of state court,
limit punishment for possession to small fines and ensure that patients for
whom marijuana has been recommended by a physician suffer no punishment for
obtaining, possessing or using marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia.

Anthony Johnson, a 25-year-old law student at MU and president of Mizzou
American Civil Liberties Union, initiated the petition. He said he doubts
the council will approve the ordinance, but he is optimistic about its
long-term fate.

"I think it will be successful when the people vote on it," Johnson said.
"People realize that this is a better policy for Columbia."

Sixth Ward Councilman John Coffman said the petition seems to be
well-written.

"I'm leaning toward supporting it," Coffman said.

Although he said he's willing to look at it with an open mind, Third Ward
Councilman Bob Hutton expressed concern about the ordinance's apparent
conflict with state law concerning medical use of marijuana. He also said he
doesn't agree that the ordinance should be changed to protect students
accused of possession from losing federal financial aid.