Marijuana Policy Project

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Voters in this college town will decide April 8 whether to soften municipal marijuana penalties and allow medicinal use of pot inside the city limits even though possession is illegal under Missouri law.

Supporters of Proposition 1 have set up a campaign fund-raising committee, organized benefit concerts and solicited thousands of dollars from national organizations advocating changes in drug laws.

One advocacy group, the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project, said Monday that it has committed $10,000 to boost the Columbia campaign and would consider sending more money. The local campaign committee's spokeswoman said another national group, the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance, has pledged several thousand dollars.

Opponents have no campaign committee - no formal organization at all, in fact - and have mostly been given a voice by local law enforcement officials, who issued a single press release calling for Proposition 1's defeat.

The organization, energy and funding of the proposal's backers are cause for worry to Columbia Police Chief Randy Boehm, who frets that lack of widespread awareness could result in low turnout by prospective opponents and lead to passage of Proposition 1.