By Greg Grisolano

ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com

A petition drive to put a marijuana-decriminalization proposal before the city of Joplin is close to having the necessary number of signatures, according to organizers.

“I’m feeling pretty good about it,” said Kelly Maddy, head of Sensible Joplin, the organization behind the effort. “We’ve put a lot of hard work in it, and we’re feeling pretty confident.”

Maddy said his organization has rounded up about 6,000 signatures and hopes to increase the number to more than 7,000 by the time it presents the petition July 7 at City Hall.

Maddy, who also is president of the Joplin chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, has been heading up the “sensible sentencing” drive since last September.

If the group’s proposal is endorsed by voters, possession of less than 35 grams of marijuana or possession of marijuana paraphernalia would become an administrative infraction — like a traffic ticket or nuisance violation — and not a criminal violation in Joplin. Thirty-five grams is about 1 1/4 ounces.

Possession cases currently are not referred to the county prosecutor unless the amount of marijuana is 35 grams or more, making it a felony offense, according to Cpl. Chuck Niess of the Joplin Police Department.

Numbers provided by the Joplin Police Department indicate that the average age of those arrested for marijuana possession from July 2006 to July 2007 was 26.5 years. They were overwhelmingly male and predominately white.

The proposal says adults arrested for misdemeanor possession of marijuana, which is 35 grams or less, or for possession of marijuana paraphernalia would not be jailed or have to post bond. Those found guilty in municipal court would be subject to a $250 maximum fine.

City Attorney Brian Head said the city clerk’s office will have 20 days to authenticate the signatures on the petition. If the group has met the quota of about 4,700 signatures, the issue would be brought before the City Council.

Joplin’s charter provides the council an opportunity to approve a petition measure outright, or reject the motion and set it for the next general election ballot, which would be in November.

Mayor Gary Shaw said he could not speak for the council, but he expects that if the petition is valid, the voters will have the final say.

“Personally, if I were to make a guess, the council would leave it up for the people to decide,” he said Wednesday. “I have no idea how the council would vote, but I suspect something of this magnitude would be left up to the people.”