Woman files legal objection to marijuana petition

NEW BLOOMFIELD — A woman has filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft claiming that he improperly certified a petition to amend the state constitution to allow for the recreational use of marijuana.

According to the suit filed by Joy Sweeney in the 19th Circuit Court in Jefferson City, Ashcroft approved the petition even though it violates the single-subject rule which says initiative petitions can only cover one subject. But, Sweeney argues that the amendment as written would both legalize and regulate the use of the drug, which she says would be a violation.She also claims it contains multiple subjects that deal with unrelated matters.

Sweeney also argues that Ashcroft certified a number of petition signatures at the state level that were not verified by local election authorities.

Sweeney is asking that the measure legalizing recreational use of marijuana not appear on the Nov. 8 ballot.