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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - A Columbia lawyer says a local ordinance that treats marijuana possession as a municipal violation isn't being followed by Boone County sheriff's deputies patrolling within city limits.

The Columbia-based Missouri Civil Liberties Association says the sheriff and the county prosecutor are disregarding the intent of city voters who approved the change in 2004.

Columbia's ordinance treats possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana as a misdemeanor. Violators are usually released with a summons to appear in court rather than placed under arrest.

Columbia attorney Dan Viets says sheriff's officers are instead arresting pot users in the city under more stringent state laws, and Knight is not downgrading those cases to municipal status.

The sheriff and prosecutor did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

 

The all clear was given to staff at KOMU-TV to return to the station after there was a threat of its tower toppling from heavy snow.

Heavy snow and high winds were considered dangerous by station engineers on its nearby tower. Staff members were cleared from the building around 10am Sunday as a precaution.

This interrupted their coverage of he storm that is blanketing the area.