La Crosse Decriminalizes Small Amount of Marijuana Possession
La Crosse, Wisconsin(WXOW)-The La Crosse City Council voted Thursday night to approve an ordinance that would decriminalize possession of marijuana.
The council approved the measure 11 to 4.
Under the ordinance, first time offenders possessing seven or less grams of marijuana can be given a municipal ticket instead of being charged criminally.
A last minute amendment was approved to appease both sides, splitting proceeds from the tickets between the DARE program and the city’s general fund.
But opinions were still strong.
Even though the ordinance has passed, it’s really more of suggestion.
Police can still criminally charge someone who is in possession of seven grams or less of marijuana.
Additional news reports and information about the La Crosse area can be found in the “La Crosse” category or by clicking here.
PLEASE NOTE:
This is the general schedule for each month.
Please use this as a general reference.
Regular meetings of the Common Council are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 P.M.
Committee of the Whole meetings are held on the Tuesday immediately preceding each regular meeting of the Common Council at 7:30 P.M.
Please refer to the website and available information from the City of La Crosse
Since this Rep does not want to make first time drunk driving a crime, why should someone who gets caught with marijuana be a criminal? This is 2016 and marijuana is not the enemy. These words are all signs that this Rep. will support marijuana reform if we work with him! Here is his quotes in an article entitled Raising taxes not popular option among GOP 67th candidates.
Representative Rob Summerfield
Assembly District 67
(R – Bloomer)
Summerfield said the jury is still out on whether Wisconsin should decriminalize the personal use of marijuana.
He favors waiting “another year to see how Colorado and Washington (states that have decriminalized personal use of marijuana) are doing. I don’t see that Wisconsin has to be the guinea pig.”
But Summerfield opposed making first time drunken driving a criminal offense.
The 32nd District of the Wisconsin Senate is located in western Wisconsin, and is composed of all of Crawford and La Crosse Counties, almost all of Vernon, and part of Monroe County.
The Democratic Primary held on Aug. 11 and the winner was Brad Pfaff. He will face Republican candidate, Dan Kapanke in the November general election. Research tells us Kapanke held the seat in the past, lost in a recall election and then again in 2016 Kapanke lost to now out going Senator Schilling by 56 votes.
A huge Senate race for sure as we will see a new face as the Incumbent Democratic Senator Jennifer Schiling does not seek re-election.
###
On September 17, 2020, WisconsinEye senior producer Steve Walters interviewed Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse) who is running for the 32nd Senate District in the upcoming general election.
As we know Kapanke was an elected official before and did not reform any of our marijuana laws. He did not co-sponsor or help in any way. With no public statements on the issue, his silence is deadline…. but if you listen closely to his interview, he gives us a very cautious 20 seconds of his life to address the issue, we cued up the video to start at 9:07…. he is “very cautious” and it would have to be proven to him that it is absolutely needed and safe guards are in place for use.
VS
On July 2, 2020, WisconsinEye senior producer Steve Walters interviewed Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) who is running for the 32nd Senate District in the upcoming partisan primary election.
Brad Pfaff touches on the polling, medical professionals, medical conditions and the 33 states that have medical marijuana and he is here to have that conversation on medical; but on recreational he still thinks more talk is needed, recreational marijuana he needs to learn more and not ready move forward at this time on recreational.
Marijuana reform is on the horizon everywhere, but the battle continues on what is the best path for Wisconsin to go down. With farmers and manufactures waiting to capture the industrial hemp market; universities, research facilities and patients still wait also to help do their part to heal the economy, but recreational cannabis supplied by domestic marijuana farmers under a legalization law, not decriminalization, just maybe the way to protect our borders and public lands, while forcing the drug cartels to the unemployment line.
A recent report from La Crosse Tribune covered the La Crosse Common Council vote to decriminalize possession of fewer of 25 grams or less of marijuana by a first-time offender a minor municipal violation, with a fine. A similar initiative failed in 2001 after five circuit court judges requested the option of charging marijuana possession as an ordinance violation.
Here is an excerpt from the article with quotes and information from local law enforcement and judges.
La Crosse police Chief Ed Kondracki spoke against the proposal at Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole, saying it sends the message marijuana is of no more consequence than being ticketed for skateboarding in a parking structure. He did not attend Thursday’s meeting and couldn’t be reached for comment.
“It’s part of a very violent equation … Anything we do to reduce the penalties helps those drug cartels,” Kondracki said Tuesday.”It’s almost like subsidizing them.”
Council member Satory, who championed the policy change then and now, was surprised the votes swung his way Thursday.
Additional stories will be coming in shortly, this breaking news needs immediate action from supporters in the area also.
Report from WKBT.com La Crosse Council votes to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana indicates via their report that “if Mayor Matt Harter signs the new ordinance into law, it would take effect on October 17, 2010.”
We heard from the Incumbent in the past, many times…. and the Republican challenger is silent on the issue besides for a NO vote as a county board member to the above mentioned referendum…. so let’s ‘highlight’ the Independent in the race.
Leroy Brown (Ind) Marijuana Rating
Leroy Brown (I – West Salem) is the Independent Candidate on the Nov 3rd ticket.
On September 14, 2020, WisconsinEye senior producer Steve Walters will interviewed Leroy Brown (I-West Salem) who is running for the 94th Assembly District in the upcoming general election.
Although Leroy Brown did not provide a completed candidate survey form, we thought it important to know his stance on cannabis reform and to hear it in his own words. Leroy Brown was awarded an A rating from NORML.
Leroy Brown is challenging Incumbent Steve Doyle (D). Rep. Doyle received a C- rating from NORML for the current legislative session.
So in researching this we wondered why Rep. Doyle did not sponsor anything and found a few news article about Rep. Doyle and marijuana reform in his area.
In all fairness and to close out, we do believe Doyle supports medical marijuana, as Rep. Doyle was a past co-sponsor of the medical marijuana bill in 2017. He also voted YES as a board member to allow the La Crosse 2018 Marijuana Recreational Referendum. We do not know if he supports recreational marijuana, but 63% of La Crosse County supported adult use in the 2018 referendum.
2017-2018 Wisconsin Hemp Cannabis (Marijuana) Active Legislation
Legalize Opportunity
2017 LRB – 2457 “Legalizing Opportunity” , Regulate marijuana possession, use and sales.
Pending for the 2017-2018 legislative session to regulate the use, growing, and distribution of marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison), permits adults to possess and grow personal use quantities of cannabis, and to possess marijuana-related paraphernalia. It also establishes regulations for the commercial production and retail sale of marijuana to anyone over the age of 21. Public use of cannabis is subject to a $100 civil fine.
The bill also establishes a regulated system for the production and distribution of cannabis for medical purposes. It further prohibits employers from discriminating against employees because of their off-the-job use of cannabis, and mandates insurance providers to provide coverage for patients’ use of medical marijuana.
Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the following question be submitted, for advisory purposes only, to the voters of this state at the next general election occurring not sooner than 45 days after adoption of this resolution:
QUESTION 1: “Medical Marijuana. Should the state of Wisconsin allow individuals with debilitating medical conditions to use and safely access marijuana for medical purposes if those individuals have a written recommendation from a licensed Wisconsin physician?”
QUESTION 1: “Medical Marijuana. Should the state of Wisconsin allow individuals with debilitating medical conditions to use and safely access marijuana for medical purposes if those individuals have a written recommendation from a licensed Wisconsin physician?”
Passage of this legislation will offer qualified patients state-sanctioned access to a therapy that may offer them significant benefits. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia already offer similar patient protections. Data from other states finds that the enactment of medical marijuana access is associated with lower rates of opioid abuse and mortality, and does not negatively impact workplace safety, teen use, or motor vehicle safety. A 2016 University of Michigan study showed a 64 percent reduction in the use of opioid painkillers amidst patients who used medical marijuana to help chronic pain.
The results of a recent statewide poll commissioned by Marquette Law School show that fifty-nine percent of Wisconsin residents believe marijuana should be legalized. It is time for our state laws to reflect the views of the majority of voters and to address the best interests of our patient community.
Under current law, possession of any amount is a misdemeanor that carries up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted by a plea or trial.
This bill amends state law so that marijuana possession offenses (up to 10 grams) are reduced to a civil offense, punishable by a fine of $100.
The policy proposed by this bill is line with those of numerous other states, including Nebraska and Ohio. Such a change will save taxpayers money and allow police and the courts to re-prioritize their resources toward addressing more serious crimes. Minor marijuana possession offenders, many of them young people, should not be saddled with a criminal record and the lifelong penalties and stigma associated with it.
2017 Assembly Bill 183 / Senate Bill 119 requiring “the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to issue licenses that authorize the growing and processing of industrial hemp.”
Hemp is a distinct variety of the plant species cannabis sativa L. that contains minimal amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Various parts of the plant can be utilized in the making of textiles, paper, paints, clothing, plastics, cosmetics, foodstuffs, insulation, animal feed and other products. The crop is commercially cultivated throughout the world. An economic analysis by the Hemp Industries Association reports that retail sales of hemp products in the US total $600 million annually. It is time to allow Wisconsin farmers the opportunity to explore this emerging market.
2017 Assembly Bill 158 / Senate Bill 104 This bill establishes a licensure program administered by the Department of Safety and Professional Services for producers of cannabidiol (CBD)
Under the bill, a person may possess tetrahydrocannabinols to produce CBD oil, and may produce CBD oil and deliver it, only if the person is licensed by DSPS and only if the CBD oil is produced in a form without a psychoactive effect for the treatment of a medical condition. The bill also makes certain changes to the requirements for possessing CBD oil and dispensing it to patients.
Current law designates THC as a schedule I controlled substance and defines THC to exclude CBD oil in a form without a psychoactive effect that is dispensed by a pharmacy or physician approved by the Controlled Substances Board to treat a seizure disorder or that is possessed by a person with documentation from a physician that the CBD oil is to treat a seizure disorder. Under the bill, THC does not include CBD oil in a form without a psychoactive effect without regard to who dispenses it or possesses it. The bill also specifies that any person may possess CBD oil to treat a medical condition and that any pharmacy or physician may dispense CBD oil to treat a medical condition.
Wisconsin’s historic new bipartisan cannabis decriminalization bill Senate Bill 318 includes a number of sponsors of cannabis law reform legislation not seen before the current legislative session. Not only is the lead Assembly sponsor a Republican, Rep. Adam Jarchow (R-Balsam Lake), there are five other GOP cosponsors, Kathleen Bernier (R-Lake Hallie), Reps. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc) and Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh). Jarchow and his five GOP colleagues are also sponsors of the bipartisan industrial hemp legislation AB183/SB119. An interesting note is that this is the first session Schraa’s Democratic colleague Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) has sponsored pot-related legislation, sponsoring the medical bill AB75 and SB318.
List of sponsors of SB318, Wisconsin cannabis decriminalization bill.
SB318 has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, chaired by Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine). The vice-chair is Senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) with Senators Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville), Fred Risser (D-Madison) and Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) also members. While Stroebel is a cannabigot who was the only vote against the CBD bill passed earlier this year, Risser and Taylor are both sponsors of this bill, and in fact, this is Risser’s first pot-related bill in 38 years. Testin, who defeated another cannabigot, Democratic medical pot opponent Democrat Julie Lassa in Nov. 2016, is also a sponsor of the bipartisan industrial hemp bill AB183/SB119 and Wanggaard was a sponsor of the CBD bill. If the bill can get a hearing, and that’s a big if, the votes could be there to pass it out of committee. Then it would be up to Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) whether it gets a floor vote.
While Gov. Scott Walker is a steadfast opponent of anything beyond the weak CBD law passed this year, the GOP side of the legislature appears to be slowly warming to supporting cannabis-related bills. Republicans are no longer seeing cannabis as a negative but as a way to connect with constituents and get votes. Should Walker lose his reelection bid in Nov. 2018, Wisconsin could finally join the long list of states who are rejecting cannabis prohibition and embracing the benefits of taxing and regulating the cannabis plant.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
