Organizers say petition drive on marijuana plan near goal

Discussion

June 18, 2008

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Wed Jun 18, 2008, 07:06 PM CDT

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.”

Current law

Under current law, those convicted of marijuana possession or possession of paraphernalia within the city are subject to a fine of up to $500 fine and/or up to 100 days in jail, based on the judge’s discretion at sentencing.

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Joplin Sensible Sentencing Initiative

Organizers say petition drive on marijuana plan near goal 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.
June 18, 2008
Voices: Unsupported criticisms The letter by Dianne Slater (Globe, Jan. 31) is based more on a logical fallacy than actual scientific data on behavioral patterns of marijuana users.

Naturally, critics of such a move warn that decriminalizing cannabis will increase pot use among Joplin’s young people. Such concerns, while understandable, are not supported by epidemiological evidence.
February 10, 2008
<img src=" http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/breaking.gif " Border=0> 11/21/07, 2:58 p.m. Marijuana decriminalization initiative petition announced On Friday afternoon, standing on the sidewalk at Joplin City Hall, Kelly Maddy, the president of the Joplin chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, flanked by Kris Krane, the executive director of the national organization, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and Ryan Denham, President of the Alliance for Drug Reform Policy in Arkansas, fired the first shot in what will be a year-long battle to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana within the city of Joplin and the paraphernalia that’s used to smoke it.
February 3, 2008
<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif" border=0> Pot-signature drive kicks into gear <font color="#ff0000">w/ links Sensible Sentencing Initiative info, audio, video & petition language</font> Four months after Kelly Maddy stood on the sidewalk outside Joplin City Hall, flanked by supporters of his effort to decriminalize marijuana use in the city, the campaign is kicking into high gear.

Maddy, president of the Joplin chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, spent several hours Sunday in front of Dillons grocery store, soliciting signatures for the Sensible Sentencing Initiative. He met with a couple of less-than-friendly responses.
February 2, 2008 1 Photo 4 Links
Dave Woods: Readers fire shots in war on war on drugs I have to admit, I admire Kelly Maddy. I admire the grassroots political organizer’s commitment to the marijuana decriminalization cause and the work he has done in Joplin in support of the Sensible Sentencing Initiative.
February 2, 2008 1 Photo 1 Link
Guest column: Legal marijuana would help millions Have you heard the news? There is now a low-cost drug proven to ease a cancer patient’s suffering. Not only does this drug reduce the physical and psychological pain of cancer, but, more importantly, it restores a chemotherapy patient’s appetite.

The drug, of course, is marijuana.
February 2, 2008 1 Photo
Pot petitions gaining ground It might seem unlikely that an initiative petition aimed at decriminalizing possession of limited amounts of marijuana and the paraphernalia used to smoke it could make it onto the ballot in Joplin — let alone pass muster with voters.

But similar efforts have passed in nearby cities such as Columbia and Eureka Springs, Ark.

“We weren’t sure what to anticipate,” said Columbia police Chief Randy Boehm.
January 28, 2008 1 Photo
Voices: Give voters the choice Several letters to the editor have voiced concerns regarding the launch of our municipal initiative petition to lessen the criminal penalties associated with the possession of small amounts of marijuana. We understand those concerns and wish to address them.

Currently, Joplin police arrest an estimated 230 people annually for violating marijuana laws.
October 10, 2007
Voices: Legalize marijuana As a Christian, I wish Kelly Maddy and the Joplin chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws success, but for re-legalizing, not just decriminalizing, cannabis.
September 30, 2007
Dave Woods: Pot stories keep comments section smokin' Joplin police Chief Lane J. Roberts was blunt about his past use of marijuana during a recent interview concerning the launch of the Sensible Sentencing Initiative.
September 28, 2007 1 Photo 2 Links
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Organizers say petition drive on marijuana plan near goal

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

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