In late March, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors reduced the fine for marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession of 25 grams or less to $1. Leaders have also pushed for similar legislation in the City of Milwaukee.
Last month, Legalize MKE, a new grassroots community group, organized a virtual educational event hosted by the Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Network. In attendance were several elected officials, representatives of the City of Milwaukee and the Sheriff’s Office, among others. The lead organizer and moderator of the event was Andrea Rodriguez, an educator and community organizer.
Here are some takeaways from the event:
1. Is marijuana possession legal in Milwaukee?
No. Under Wisconsin law, it is illegal to possess, sell or manufacture marijuana. Some municipalities, including Milwaukee, have enacted local changes related to marijuana law enforcement. This spring, two Common Council members introduced legislation aimed at removing fines for possessing up to an ounce of marijuana, but no changes in municipal laws have resulted yet. In Milwaukee, a first possession offense of 25 grams or less results in a fine of up to $50 plus court costs. Second and subsequent offenses result in a similar fine but can be prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Office and result in state charges. A second state conviction for marijuana possession is a felony in Wisconsin.
2. Will marijuana be decriminalized in the City of Milwaukee?
Maybe. According to Ald. Chantia Lewis, new legislation to reduce the fine for marijuana possession of up to 25 grams to $1 or to remove the fines and court costs altogether will be brought to committee in June. The legislation would mirror that of the county’s but take it a step further, she said. Marijuana use would still be prohibited in certain areas, such as near schools and while driving, she added.
3. I live in Milwaukee County. Does that mean I would only get a $1 fine for possession of marijuana or possession and delivery of drug paraphernalia?
Not necessarily. The new ordinance for Milwaukee County only applies to enforcement by the Sheriff’s Office on Milwaukee County-owned lands and facilities such as parks, according to Milwaukee County Supervisor Sylvia Ortiz-Velez. Municipalities may still enforce state or local marijuana laws. In addition, the county ordinance only applies to possession of under 25 grams of marijuana. Court costs would also still apply, which would bring the cost up to around $140.
4. Does the city enforce current marijuana laws?
Yes. “When there are laws that are promulgated, we enforce them,” said City Attorney Tearman Spencer. He said that he was pleased that there had been a movement to reduce disparities in enforcement in the city. According to a report released in March by the District Attorney’s Office, both marijuana arrests and convictions in Milwaukee County have decreased significantly since 2010. In Milwaukee County, arrests for marijuana possession dropped from 4,785 in 2010 to 1,927 in 2019. Marijuana possession convictions in Milwaukee County also decreased from 1,285 in 2010 to 96 in 2019.
5. Does Milwaukee County enforce current marijuana laws?
Yes. “Ours is an agency entrusted with the responsibility of enforcement,” said Theodore Chisolm, chief of staff in the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. But, he added, his agency commits its patrol operations to addressing acts of violence and not going after individuals for low-level offenses.
6. Will recreational marijuana be legalized in Wisconsin?
No, not anytime soon, according to Sen. Lena Taylor. Although Gov. Tony Evers put legalization into the current budget proposal, it was removed. The Republican-controlled legislature is not in favor of legalization. During an online event forum hosted by WisPolitics.com in April, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said it was unlikely that lawmakers would vote in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana.
7. How about medical marijuana?
No. “I don’t see the legislature moving medical marijuana in this session,” Taylor said. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, opposes the legalization of medical marijuana while Assembly Speaker Robin Vos favors tackling the issue as standalone legislation.
8. What are some of the reasons groups are working to reform marijuana laws?
Although marijuana use is similar across all groups, according to multiple research studies, racial disparities continue to exist in enforcement. African Americans are 3.2 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession in Milwaukee County. The conviction rate for marijuana possession was also higher for African Americans than for whites in the county. Those arrests contribute to racial disparities in incarceration. In addition, enforcing marijuana laws is expensive. According to the American Civil Liberties Union report, “The War on Marijuana in Black and White,” billions of taxpayer dollars nationally are spent on marijuana arrests. In addition, many states that have legalized marijuana for recreational and medical use have collected millions in revenue from sales.
9. Why are some groups against legalization or decriminalization of marijuana?
Although a series of Wisconsin referendums in 2018 showed strong support for legalization of marijuana in many areas of the state, including Milwaukee County, some still stand in opposition. The main opponent in Wisconsin is the Republican-controlled Legislature, which has broadly opposed efforts to alter the state’s marijuana laws. Some arguments include a lack of support among their constituents, the role of marijuana as a gateway drug and the possibility of increased marijuana use and exposure among youth. Some Republicans, however, have expressed support for the legalization of medical marijuana and/or decriminalization.
Brian Kelly says
Don’t be fooled by marijuana “decriminalization” because citizens are still going to be treated like common criminals for marijuana under it. This is what desperate anti-marijuana prohibitionist types will now settle for.
Police will confiscate your “illegally purchased” marijuana under so-called “decriminization”.
They also fail to mention the additional huge cost of court costs which can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars on top of the relatively small ticket/fine.
If you fail to pay these very expensive and often unaffordable court costs you will be in “the system” as a criminal. With a warrant out for your arrest and incarceration.
This policy still allows marijuana to be used as a tool and probable cause by law enforcement to investigate marijuana consumers for no other reason other than even the detection of the scent of marijuana by law enforcement and they will confiscate your marijuana.
Overall, decriminalization through it’s hidden, super expensive court costs and mandatory summons to appear in court, combined with the allowance of marijuana to still be used by law enforcement as a tool and probable cause still allows marijuana to be an ordinary. otherwise law abiding citizen’s introduction into the criminal justice system.
No thanks! If this so called policy of marijuana “decriminalization” truly means marijuana is no longer supposed to be a “crime”, then why are marijuana consumers still going to be treated like criminals under it?
Marijuana consumers deserve and demand equal rights and protections under our laws as the drinkers of alcohol. Plain and simple!
Citizens will STILL be forced to the dangerous black market and a shady illegal street drug dealer to purchase their marijuana. Getting caught buying it is STILL a crime they will arrest and jail you for. Then, they will also most likely try to FORCE you to either mandatory community service and/or rehab, and if you don’t comply, guess what? JAILTIME!
Also, we will still be wasting our tax dollars sending police around to write summons to marijuana users and wasting police manpower and resources.
Instead of allowing our police the time, manpower and resources to protect us all from real, dangerous criminals who actually commit crimes with victims and pose a real threat to society.
Why else do you think some politicians are so EAGER to “decriminalize”, instead of LEGALIZE?
Don’t Let’em Fool Us!!!
If you can’t purchase it legally and police will confiscate it, then it isn’t legal.
If you have to fear a monetary fine/ticket which if you don’t pay and/or show up in court to handle, you then become a criminal with a warrant out for your arrest, and when convicted (yes convicted, as in crime.) you will then be forced into free manual labor and/or forced drug rehabilitation to be used as another statistic prohibitionists love to flaunt about supposed “marijuana addicts”, then….No, it’s not legal!
This will not suffice! Getting caught purchasing marijuana is still considered a serious “drug deal” and you will be prosecuted for it!
DEMAND FULL MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION NATIONWIDE!
Holly says
I’m 62 years old and believe marijuana should be legalized. Marijuana is less harmful then alcohol. I’ve known young adults who have died from excessive drinking. But never from smoking marijuana!!!
Flacko says
Foreal legalize marijuana noww NATIONWIDE!
kenyatts yamel says
We need to change the politicians in order to get better policy
Rose says
I don’t think anything wrong wit marijuana it’s been smoked for years n years it should be legal to smoke but not round kids tho
Steve Baldwin says
As a former grocery cashier, I’ve seen adults who spend more on cigarettes over their life than they would on a college education for their child. I can easily imaging the same for adults spending money on marijuana use. But if that’s not enough, here’s a statement by the CDC on what marijuana can do to mental health.
* Cannabis use is associated with the development of schizophrenia and other psychoses (loss of reality). The risk is highest for the most frequent users.
* Heavy cannabis users are more likely to report thoughts of suicide than non-users.
* Long-term cannabis users are more likely to develop social anxiety disorder than non-users.
* Frequent and long-term cannabis use may be linked to worsened symptoms in individuals with bipolar disorder. (Source: http://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/nas/mental-health.html)
Do you want that future for your child?
Regarding the comment by Mr. Kelly:
I would like to see statistics for the percentage of “25 grams or less” arrests that lead to actual incarceration. In Milwaukee County, there were only 96 possession convictions out of over 1900 arrests. I would also like to see evidence that legalization will increase state revenue and that this revenue will cover the subsequent mental health treatment costs to both users and society. Last, and for the record, I have no financial or other stake in the outcome of legalization. I am simply concerned about the future we will leave to our youth.
Brian Kelly says
An arrest does not necessarily need to lead to long incarceration to have a horrible effect an individual’s entire life permanently . Once you are arrested, you have a permanent criminal record. Spend at least a night in jail ,usually a lot longer awaiting to go before a judge to set a court date and bail. Spend thousands of dollars on bail, court costs and probation fees. An arrest also often leads to a life time of less employment opportunities and life long disqualification to certain rights and benefits one would otherwise be entitled to.
“Police Arrested Someone For Weed Possession Every 51 Seconds In 2014
Law enforcement officers made just over 700,000 arrests on marijuana-related charges in 2014, according to data released by the FBI on Monday. Of that total, 88.4 percent — or about 619,800 arrests — were made for marijuana possession alone, a rate of about one arrest every 51 seconds over the entire year.”
-Huffington Post
“Drug War Statistics
Did you know….
Number of arrests in 2014 in the U.S. for marijuana law violations: 700,993
Number of these arrests that were for possession only: 619,809 (88 percent)”
-Drug Policy Dot Org
“According to the ACLU’s original analysis, marijuana arrests now account for over half of all drug arrests in the United States. Of the 8.2 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010, 88% were for simply having marijuana. Nationwide, the arrest data revealed one consistent trend: significant racial bias. Despite roughly equal usage rates, Blacks are 3.73 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana.”
-ACLU
Brian Kelly says
Fear of Marijuana Legalization Nationwide is unfounded. Not based on any science or fact whatsoever. So please prohibitionists, we beg you to give your scare tactics, “Conspiracy Theories” and “Doomsday Scenarios” over the inevitable Legalization of Marijuana Nationwide a rest. Nobody is buying them anymore these days. Okay?
Furthermore, if all prohibitionists get when they look into that nice, big and shiny crystal ball of theirs, while wondering about the future of marijuana legalization, is horror, doom, and despair, well then I suggest they return that thing as quickly as possible and reclaim the money they shelled out for it, since it’s obviously defective.
Regarding “The Children”,
Let’s not use “The Children” as an excuse to prohibit and criminalize adult use of a natural plant far less dangerous than perfectly legal alcohol because nobody condones child use, and this is about allowing adults only to choose marijuana.
It’s our responsibility as parents by to educate our children on drug use. It’s not the government’s job to force Draconian Marijuana Laws upon every adult citizen under the guise of protecting “The Children”.
What message are we sending our children when it is easier for them to obtain marijuana now with it being illegal than it is for them to buy alcohol?
It doesn’t take the intellect of a genius to understand that stores card kids for I.D. Thugs and gang members do not. They also push the real hard drugs on children. Stores do not.
Marijuana legalization will make it harder for children to obtain it.
What message does it send our children when several of the Presidents of The United States themselves alongside a long list of successful people openly admit regular pot use at one time or another in their lives?
While we tell our kids how it will ruin their futures, and then ensure so, by allowing our government to to jail our children and give them permanent criminal records when they get caught with a little Marijuana. Especially, if they are the wrong skin color or from the “wrong neighborhood”. Which in turn, ruins their chances of employment for life.
The Prohibition of Marijuana is the wrong message to send our children while we glorify, advertise and promote the much more dangerous use of alcohol like it’s an all American pastime.
The worst thing about marijuana and our children is what happens to them when they get caught up in the criminal justice system due to it’s prohibition.
Protect “The Children” and Our Neighborhoods Through The Legalization and Regulation of Marijuana Nationwide!
Brian Kelly says
There is absolutely no doubt now that the majority of Americans want to completely legalize marijuana nationwide. Our numbers grow on a daily basis.
The prohibitionist view on marijuana is the viewpoint of a minority and rapidly shrinking percentage of Americans. It is based upon decades of lies and propaganda.
Each and every tired old lie they have propagated has been thoroughly proven false by both science and society.
Their tired old rhetoric no longer holds any validity. The vast majority of Americans have seen through the sham of marijuana prohibition in this day and age. The number of prohibitionists left shrinks on a daily basis.
With their credibility shattered, and their not so hidden agendas visible to a much wiser public, what’s left for a marijuana prohibitionist to do?
Maybe, just come to terms with the fact that Marijuana Legalization Nationwide is an inevitable reality that’s approaching much sooner than prohibitionists think, and there is nothing they can do to stop it!
Legalize Nationwide!…and Support All Marijuana Legalization Efforts!
“Marijuana is 114 times safer than drinking alcohol”
“Marijuana may be even safer than previously thought, researchers say”
“Marijuana may be even safer than previously thought, researchers say New study: We should stop fighting marijuana legalization and focus on alcohol and tobacco instead By Christopher Ingraham February 23
Compared with other recreational drugs — including alcohol — marijuana may be even safer than previously thought. And researchers may be systematically underestimating risks associated with alcohol use.
Those are the top-line findings of recent research published in the journal Scientific Reports, a subsidiary of Nature. Researchers sought to quantify the risk of death associated with the use of a variety of commonly used substances. They found that at the level of individual use, alcohol was the deadliest substance, followed by heroin and cocaine.”
-washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/02/23/marijuana-may-be-even-safer-than-previously-thought-researchers-say/
“The report discovered that marijuana is 114 times less deadly than alcohol. Researchers were able to determine this by comparing the lethal doses with the amount of typical use. Through this approach, marijuana had the lowest mortality risk to users out of all the drugs they studied. In fact—because the numbers were crossed with typical daily use—marijuana is the only drug that tested as “low risk.”
-complex.com/pop-culture/2015/02/scientific-reports-weed-114-safer-alcohol
Jeff F says
I have been smoking everyday along with many of friends. And I can assure you none of those issues you listed are even close. Marijuana is wonderful for anti-anxiety. Should kids be allowed to use it? No. There’s a minimum drinking age. But has that ever stopped underagers from acquiring alcohol and throwing parties? No. Illegal or not we will always find what we’re looking for. But now ask yourself this. If you knew your adult child was smoking weed, wouldnt it make you more comfortable knowing it came from a licensed grower, where they know exactly how it was grown. And its exact chemical make up? Vs. Them buying from the dude living in a pos house in some shit neighborhood?
Sally says
I think Milwaukee needs to legalize Marijuana. It will pay for itself in a few years. I live in Tucson AZ where it’s legal and it’s a cash cow. I like knowing the taxes I pay for the Marijuana funds our roads and schools. Also Tucson Police were tired of trying to enforce the old Marijuana laws. I have had a MM card since 13 and would never again live where it’s illegal. Marijuana is much safer than alcohol and I think drunk driving arrests would go down if Marijuana was legal in WI.
F says
Too bad marijuana ingestion isn’t
legal for pilots flying commercial
passengers. Geesh, think about all
the really absolute, totally primo
light shows the pilot in command
can offer passengers as he banks
deep left and right with the thrill
of full stalls for the best light show
into Tucson at night.
Far out, Sally.
Have your boarding pass ready.
LT says
That’s a strawman argument. Pilots aren’t allowed to fly drunk either. Do you want to ban alcohol as well?
Sarah says
The founder of Kimberly Clark way back in the day funded many articles on refer madness because he found hemp to be huge competition. Doctors used to do house calls with cbd elixirs in their bag because it is so good for our bodies. It is our largest receptor group – even larger than our hormone receptor group. We should be in complete harmony with this plant! It has been proved that is regrows grey brain matter in seniors! The list of health benefits goes on and on! Big pharma is damaging for people’s overall health but it legal for people to attain so it is ok to get hooked on pills! Of course if your heart needs a pill, by all means take it! Big pharma tried to mimic marijuana in pill form and that is where they found an increase of people committing suicide, not from actual real grown marijuana!
F says
Sarah, smile. Just -, smile.
Heather derobertis says
Legalizeing pot for people who really can use it in racine wi. Can keep them safe in there homes and off the dangerous streets and medical can help people with cancer glaucoma etc I would vote YES 2021-2022
Heatherderobertis says
Legalize pot in racine Wisconsin I vote yes for pot it works for arthritis glocoma eating disorders for people who cant eat or sleep pot helps pot is a good thing
Sharon Sampon says
I am a 70 yr old American citizen. I have experienced drug and alcohol addiction in the past and so have many of my relatives (living and dead). Someone commented that some of our Presidents have admitted to having been arrested for drug or alcohol use. Our current President Biden was indeed arrested for protesting violence in this country. Our past President George Bush also was an alcoholic but saw the error in his ways, in a large part through his family experience also. I have an abusive ex-husband who I was married to for twenty years who I finally got the courage to divorce. According to one of my children he is still drinking who I am also concerned about, who may be involved in drugs. We learn through reading the Bible, which is used when our Presidents are sworn into office to rely on our Lord Jesus Christ and God to help keep this country great.