ST. LOUIS - Don Yarber joked that he has managed to earn the nickname Mayor Juana through his efforts to legalize cannabis.

Last week, two nonbinding referendums seeking support on statewide legalization of marijuana use for medical purposes narrowly failed in Cottleville, where Yarber has been mayor for five years. He had hoped its passage would have sparked state legislators to put the matter to a statewide vote.

"We have to start working to convince the nonbelievers," Yarber told a small gathering Saturday at the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws state spring conference in St. Louis.

[continues 257 words]