Milwaukee: towards an 1$ fine for cannabis consumption

If the police catch you smoking a joint in the streets of the Brew City, get out your wallet. But there's no need to write a big check. A dollar bill will do. That's the proposal of a Milwaukee County Councilwoman, who wants to lower the county's fine from 275 to a symbolic one dollar.

«By doing this, we support racial equity. We reduce opiate use, and we remove a significant financial burden for many people, Sylvia Ortiz-Velez is delighted. With the current regulations, some people are unable to pay the fines and fees claimed for marijuana possession.»

If passed, the new fine would apply to those in possession of up to 25 grams of cannabis. But «the dollar fine» is also an announcement effect, since Milwaukee County doesn't decide everything. With the additional costs imposed by the courts, the average fine would rise to $140, which would still be less than today's figure of up to $500.

Towards legalization in Wisconsin?

Councillor Ortiz-Velez's proposal does not, however, decriminalize cannabis. Even if the fine is reduced, cannabis consumption will still appear on the criminal record. «It shouldn't be seen as a free pass, says a sheriff to CBS 58. It's not like you can just walk around with a dollar bill in your pocket.»

Sylvia Ortiz-Velez's proposal is also part of a political context. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, a member of the Democratic Party, is also a member of the Wisconsin House of Representatives. And the Democratic governor of Wisconsin is counting on the House to vote in favor of the proposal. his latest proposal: legalize recreational cannabis.

The Ortiz-Velez proposal is intended to pave the way for Governor Tony Evers. Milwaukee County will vote for or against the dollar fine on March 25. If the proposal passes, it will provide a political opportunity for Governor Evers, who will face other obstacles on the road to legalization. In Wisconsin, the Republican party controls both the House of Representatives and the Senate.