Pubdate: Sun, 18 Jun 2006
Source: Wisconsin State Journal (WI)
Copyright: 2006 Madison Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.madison.com/wsj/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/506
Author: Dan Simmons, La Crosse Tribune
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

LIGHTER POT PENALITES ALLOWED

La Crosse County authorities have the option of issuing citations and 
fining people found with small amounts of marijuana, instead of 
charging them with a misdemeanor.

The La Crosse County Board has adopted an ordinance that allows 
lesser penalties for people accused of possessing under 25 grams of 
the drug for the first time. The debate Thursday included testimony 
from the district attorney, a judge and the sheriff.

District Attorney Scott Horne argued against the measure, saying the 
current system identifies problem offenders early, before they move 
on to more serious drug abuse and criminal behavior and does not 
taint their records if they follow court-ordered education and 
community-service programs.

"The ordinance sends the wrong message to the community and removes 
the current emphasis on education and assessment," he said.

But La Crosse County Circuit Judge John Perlich, who presides over 
the county's drug court, then displayed four criminal complaints for 
minor marijuana possession from a recent day, reciting a long list of 
clerks who spent time filing and processing the complaints.

"All this for a low-risk offender. All this costs you, the taxpayer, 
a lot of money," he said.

But like Horne, La Crosse County Sheriff Michael Weissenberger voiced 
strong opposition to the ordinance. Marijuana possession, even in 
small amounts, is reason for concern, he said.

"How do we know the person didn't just get done selling more of it?" he said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman