Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
People 21 and older could legally possess up to an ounce of marijuana in Stevens Point under a proposal expected to come before city officials.
The city has already changed its rules twice recently to reduce the penalties some people face when police find them with marijuana.
-In October 2014, the City Council voted to decriminalize possession of up to 5 grams of the drug for first-time offenders. The council decided at that time violators would face $300 fine but not a criminal charge.
-Less than a year later, in August 2015, the council reduced that fine to $100.
A 2016 discussion about whether to decriminalize possession for subsequent offenses did not result in any changes, but advocates plan to address the issue again this year.
Now, they're calling on Stevens Point to allow people who are at least 21 years old to have up to 28 grams of marijuana in private without facing a fine. City Council member Mary McComb said she plans to draft the proposal and bring it forward.
McComb said she doesn't believe people who use marijuana should be treated more harshly than people who consume alcohol.
"In my mind, it's like punishing people for having a gin and tonic," she said.
McComb has worked with local activist Ben Kollock on the proposal. Kollock has twice proposed reforms to the city's policy. He worked with council members to reduce the fine for possession two years ago and pushed for decriminalizing possession after the first offense.
"There's always this constant thing in my head that there is this extremely unjust law in Stevens Point," Kollock said. "If you see something wrong happening that's unjust, you should try to fix it yourself. That's what I'm trying to do."
The new proposal is modeled after ordinances in Monona and Madison. Both cities address, in some form, scenarios in which people may possess marijuana without fines or criminal charges.
Madison's ordinance, established in 1977, is backed by the city's police chief.
Chief Michael Koval said he'd rather devote his department's resources toward issues such as gun violence, drug addiction and domestic violence than create criminal records for people caught with user amounts of weed.
"You are literally creating a (court) record of arrest and prosecution that will remain with someone for the rest of their lifetime," he said. "It can be problematic for otherwise good people applying for jobs and housing and the military and scholarships or grants."
Like McComb, Koval said he didn't think casual marijuana users should face harsher punishments than people who drink alcohol.
"Why has one group of individuals now been criminalized and stigmatized and labeled, while the other group has the implication of a glorified right of passage?" he said.
Tom Zenner, Stevens Point's assistant police chief, said officers will enforce whatever rule the City Council chooses "fairly and impartially."
Reform of marijuana policies in the city has faced opposition in the past. When the city reduced the fine for small possession, for example, four of the 11 council members voted against the measure. Shaun Morrow, who represents the city's District 11, said he opposed the move because he was concerned about the severity of punishment people face for additional offenses. A lesser fine may not be a sufficient deterrent, he said.
Morrow said he will wait to see the details of any forthcoming proposals before commenting. He said changes would have to comply with state law to earn his support.
McComb said she hopes to bring the proposal forward to the council in October. She noted that several states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, and some for recreational.
"We're in a different world now," she said. "Let's get with the program."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana reformers want Stevens Point to allow up to an ounce
Author: Sari Lesk
Contact: stevens point, Stevens Point Journal, newspaper, staff, reporter
Photo Credit: Jacob Byk
Website: Stevens Point Journal
The city has already changed its rules twice recently to reduce the penalties some people face when police find them with marijuana.
-In October 2014, the City Council voted to decriminalize possession of up to 5 grams of the drug for first-time offenders. The council decided at that time violators would face $300 fine but not a criminal charge.
-Less than a year later, in August 2015, the council reduced that fine to $100.
A 2016 discussion about whether to decriminalize possession for subsequent offenses did not result in any changes, but advocates plan to address the issue again this year.
Now, they're calling on Stevens Point to allow people who are at least 21 years old to have up to 28 grams of marijuana in private without facing a fine. City Council member Mary McComb said she plans to draft the proposal and bring it forward.
McComb said she doesn't believe people who use marijuana should be treated more harshly than people who consume alcohol.
"In my mind, it's like punishing people for having a gin and tonic," she said.
McComb has worked with local activist Ben Kollock on the proposal. Kollock has twice proposed reforms to the city's policy. He worked with council members to reduce the fine for possession two years ago and pushed for decriminalizing possession after the first offense.
"There's always this constant thing in my head that there is this extremely unjust law in Stevens Point," Kollock said. "If you see something wrong happening that's unjust, you should try to fix it yourself. That's what I'm trying to do."
The new proposal is modeled after ordinances in Monona and Madison. Both cities address, in some form, scenarios in which people may possess marijuana without fines or criminal charges.
Madison's ordinance, established in 1977, is backed by the city's police chief.
Chief Michael Koval said he'd rather devote his department's resources toward issues such as gun violence, drug addiction and domestic violence than create criminal records for people caught with user amounts of weed.
"You are literally creating a (court) record of arrest and prosecution that will remain with someone for the rest of their lifetime," he said. "It can be problematic for otherwise good people applying for jobs and housing and the military and scholarships or grants."
Like McComb, Koval said he didn't think casual marijuana users should face harsher punishments than people who drink alcohol.
"Why has one group of individuals now been criminalized and stigmatized and labeled, while the other group has the implication of a glorified right of passage?" he said.
Tom Zenner, Stevens Point's assistant police chief, said officers will enforce whatever rule the City Council chooses "fairly and impartially."
Reform of marijuana policies in the city has faced opposition in the past. When the city reduced the fine for small possession, for example, four of the 11 council members voted against the measure. Shaun Morrow, who represents the city's District 11, said he opposed the move because he was concerned about the severity of punishment people face for additional offenses. A lesser fine may not be a sufficient deterrent, he said.
Morrow said he will wait to see the details of any forthcoming proposals before commenting. He said changes would have to comply with state law to earn his support.
McComb said she hopes to bring the proposal forward to the council in October. She noted that several states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, and some for recreational.
"We're in a different world now," she said. "Let's get with the program."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana reformers want Stevens Point to allow up to an ounce
Author: Sari Lesk
Contact: stevens point, Stevens Point Journal, newspaper, staff, reporter
Photo Credit: Jacob Byk
Website: Stevens Point Journal
