City council to take up marijuana discussion Monday

By Brandi Makuski

City leaders on Monday are scheduled to continue a discussion on a possible fine reduction for first-offense marijuana possession.

Proposed by Ald. Mary McComb last December, the ordinance amendment would reduce the city’s fine of $100 down to a $5 ticket that would total $67 after court fees were assessed.

The city previously decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2015, reducing the fine from $300 to $100 plus court costs, making the city’s fine lower than Portage County’s, which is $389.50, and Plover’s fine of $187.

The city council postponed any decision on the proposal, following a recommendation from Mayor Mike Wiza after he suggested the move may have unintended consequences, and he wanted the council to consider them until after the holiday season.

“There was some misunderstood information, some inaccurate information, and I think we need to answer a few more questions before we’re able to make a decision on this,” Wiza said in December.

Since then, Wiza has pointed out one of his concerns was that law enforcement from both Portage Co. and the Wisconsin State Patrol can issue tickets inside the city, and neither would be considered a municipal ordinance violation, making it inconsistent with any change inside the city.

“If we make that fine lower in the city, it’s only effective if someone is cited by a Stevens Point police officer…it would be very confusing for anyone in the city,” Wiza said.

In December, McComb said she proposed the ordinance amendment because she believes marijuana is a “soft drug…which would put it in the category with alcohol and tobacco.”

McComb added her proposal doesn’t legalize marijuana, which is illegal under Wisconsin state law, but she believes “it’s alright for adults to use marijuana privately.”

Police Chief Martin Skibba said regardless of personal belief, his department is charged with enforcing the law—and a fine reduction could make their job tougher.

“Fines are meant to be a deterrent from a particular behavior, and a $5 fine isn’t a deterrent,” Skibba said. “If we reduce the fee so low that it’s no longer a deterrent, you will have more people being arrested and convicted of felonies.”

Skibba said there are also other factors he believes aren’t being considered in the local legalization debate.

“Today’s marijuana is engineered; it’s completely different than what was smoked back in the ’60s,” he said, adding while many states have already legalized marijuana, they have also experienced subsequent increases in other crimes, such as hard drugs, trafficking and prostitution.

Wiza said too many factors weren’t being considered in the debate.

“There are just too many unknowns if we decriminalize this locally but not regionally,” he said. “The bottom line is, I would suggest if you want it legalized, you lobby the state.”

The city council meets at 7 PM on Feb. 19 inside Council Chambers at the courthouse, 1516 Church Street. The public is welcome to attend.