[OG Kush]

A new La Crosse County ordinance would send criminal charges up in smoke for low-risk offenders busted with under 25 grams — a little less than an ounce — of marijuana.

At a Thursday meeting, the county board voted 15-12 to pass the ordinance, which would send first-time offenders away with a citation and fine instead of a misdemeanor charge.

The vote followed nearly two hours of debate that included testimony from the district attorney, a judge and the county sheriff — and a few moments of levity that would please Cheech and Chong.

District Attorney Scott Horne argued against the ordinance, saying the current system identifies problem offenders early, before they move on to more serious drug abuse and criminal behavior, and doesn’t 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.

County board member and defense attorney Keith Belzer then engaged Horne in a questioning that resembled a cross-examination at trial.

Belzer asked if Horne intended to use the ordinance if passed.

“The county board can’t compel a prosecution strategy,” Horne replied, adding “there should be further discussion about it” if passed.

La Crosse County Circuit Judge John Perlich, who presides over the county’s Drug Court, wasted no time challenging most of what Horne said.

He held four criminal complaints for minor marijuana possession from a recent day, which he riffled through with his fingers as he recited 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.

Onalaska, Wis., has had a similar ordinance in place for more than two decades, he said, “and last I checked, it’s not a den of dope-smoking meth-heads.”

Board member and Central High School microeconomics teacher Jim Berns also argued against the ordinance, saying he’s seen too many young lives derailed by drug abuse. The current approach, he said, “allows them to turn a poor or impulsive decision into something positive.”

Belzer said he’s represented many clients whose lives were equally affected by the legal snarls and inability to get insurance benefits and student loans after being busted for having marijuana seeds in an ashtray.

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.

Toward the end of the debate, board member Ray Ebert asked Weissenberger how many joints could be rolled from 25 grams of marijuana — the legal limit under the ordinance.

“Depends on how you roll them,” Weissenberger replied.

Board chairman Steve Doyle interjected.

“Any marijuana users out there want to fill us in?” he said, addressing the 28 board members present.

All broke out in laughter. None answered his question.


Newshawk: SX420 - 420Girls.com
Source: 420Times.com
Author: Dan Simmons, La Crosse Tribune
Published: Friday, June 16, 2006
Copyright: 2006 The La Crosse Tribune
Contact: http://tinyurl.com/oktg8
Website: http://www.lacrossetribune.com/