Pot petitions still short

Joplin voters will not get to vote on a ballot initiative to decriminalize personal possession of marijuana.


The Joplin City Clerk has notified Kelly Maddy of NORML that petitions circulated by his group still fell more than 500 signatures short of the number needed to force an election on the issue.

Maddy's group had initially submitted petitions that were more than 1,000 signatures short and was given a chance under Joplin's city charter to try to make up that number. The city clerk had until Friday to finish verifying the signatures from the second round.

City Clerk Barbara Hogelin said Tuesday the city charter prohibits any further action on the issue.

Maddy said his group also is thwarted from placing the issue on the November ballot because the state's deadline to submit ballot questions was Monday.

For more details, see Wednesday editions.


http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_239162355.html