Pubdate: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 Source: Springfield News-Leader (MO) Copyright: 2008 The Springfield News-Leader Contact: http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1129 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) PETITION TO PUT MARIJUANA ISSUE TO JOPLIN VOTERS MOVES AHEAD Joplin (AP) -- Activists who want to decriminalize marijuana in Joplin say they have about half the signatures needed to put the measure on the city's November ballot. The Joplin chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws says it expects to collect all the roughly 5,000 signatures it needs. The petition drive started in September. The group says it has collected about 2,700 signatures that still need to be checked against voter lists. If approved by Joplin voters in November, the ballot proposal would make possession of a misdemeanor amount of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia an administrative offense. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom