MADISON: Ed Thompson was awarded the first-ever Ben Masel ‘Defender of Liberty’ award by the Wisconsin and Madison chapters of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) at ‘A Cannabis Fair’ in Kendall Wisconsin on Saturday. Dozens of attendees watched as the award was presented by Wisconsin NORML vice president Gary Storck, and Ed spoke for several minutes after accepting it. Jacki Rickert also spoke about her friendship with Ed.
Thompson, a former Tomah Mayor, was the 2002 Libertarian candidate for Wisconsin governor and received over 10% of the vote on a platform that included protecting patients who use medical cannabis. Jacki Rickert, namesake of Wisconsin medical cannabis legislation – The Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act” — served as Thompson’s Buffalo County campaign chair.
Ed Thompson has been battling pancreatic cancer since his diagnosis in 2010 while campaigning against State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) as a pro-medical cannabis Republican. He still nearly prevailed despite having to curtail campaigning due to his treatments. He is the brother of former Wisconsin Governor and US Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.
Thompson also served with award namesake Ben Masel when Masel was active in the Libertarian Party. Ed’s supper club in Tomah, the Tee Pee, has hosted several Wisconsin NORML state meetings including one in 2010 where Tommy Thompson dropped in to say hello to Ben Masel.
MADISON: The La Crosse City Council tonight overrode Mayor Matt Harter’s veto of an ordinance that would make first-time possession of small amounts of cannabis a municipal infraction instead of a criminal offense.
Harter had twice before vetoed cannabis decriminalization ordinances with a November 2010 veto falling two votes short of an override. The Thursday night passage of District 3 council member Chris Olson’s ordinance gives law enforcement discretion to cite first-time possession of up to 7 grams of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia as a municipal offense rather than a misdemeanor or even a felony. Seven grams is about a quarter ounce of cannabis.
According to the La Crosse Tribune, Council member Olson stated issuing citations would generate additional city revenues and provide “a first-time offender a second chance.” He criticized Police Chief Ed Kondracki for saying he would not ask his officers to enforce the ordinance. La Crosse Police Capt. Rob Abraham later said the department would allow officers to use the ordinance at their own discretion. He also noted that La Crosse County Sheriff’s have yet to cite anyone under a similar ordinance.
