I had the chance to be featured on the “Activist Agenda” section of the 420Radio.org and was able to discuss with Radical Russ Belville the phenomenon of medical marijuana patients fleeing Wisconsin to live in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where medical marijuana is legal. Also highlighted was the upcoming forum on legalizing marijuana, planned events for Northern Wisconsin NORML, current public polling/referendums, a little shout out to the Madison and Southeastern NORML chapters, a brief update on potential legislation for Wisconsin and a call for action for Wisconsin constituents and supporters to contact their elected officials. For those of you who cannot sit still long enough you can scroll to about 30 minutes into the podcast to catch the Wisconsin specific section.
In an effort to cut costs, it appears Wisconsin may becoming soft on crime.
The State Public Defender’s Office is seeking alternatives to certain crimes. These changes would save the State over $7.7 million in the next biennial budget.
According to “Overview of State Agency Major Request Items”, a document put together by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the Public Defender’s Office is looking to amend several crimes to become mere ordinance violations. One of those crimes…drug possession.
This is the exact wording of the proposal…
“Amend s. 961.41 of the statutes to provide that all first and second offense drug possession violations, other than for methamphetamine, involving 25 grams or less be reduced to an ordinance violation provided there is reasonable doubt that the individual was not manufacturing, distributing or delivering the drug.”
But it doesn’t stop there. The Public Defender’s Office wants to make further corrections to drug laws by making third time drug possession a misdemeanor charge.
“With low risk offenders, evidence based decision making shows they don’t need much intervention and that was the overlying theme to these issues,” Randy Kraft, Communications Director for the State Public Defender’s Office said.
Lieutenant David Poteat, Director of the Brown County Drug Task Force, calls the changes absurd.
“To say that they’re low risk offenders I don’t think is realistic. If you look at heroin in particular, that is tied to so much of our property crime in the area, it’s unreal. So people using heroin are also ones stealing from stores, stealing from homes, breaking into cars. It’s connected to so much other crime than just that,” Poteat stated.
The changes will not only cut down on 7,000 cases annually, but will reduce costs by an estimated $713,000 in 2013-14 and $1,426,000 in 2014-15.
“The justice system we have in Wisconsin does come at a price tag to our taxpayers,” Randy Kraft commented. “For us to fix some areas that need an increase in funding, we also have to identify issues where it would save monies as well.”
Kraft says in order to advance other programs, “the only way the agency could submit the increases was to identify corresponding decreases.”
Poteat disagrees.
“The Sheriff’s Department has a budget as well. Each department has to do their part to maintain that budget and keep costs down. We try to operate as efficiently as possible, but you cannot do that at the risk of the public.”
While the Public Defender’s Office is looking at decreasing the cost of crime, they’re also looking at increasing pay for assistant public defenders and private bar attorneys. The increase in salaries comes at a cost of over $9million.
But first State lawmakers must agree to the changes. If adopted, the law changes would become effective July 1, 2013.
Source: GREEN BAY, Wisc. (WFRV) http://wearegreenbay.com/1fulltext-news?nxd_id=178682
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SE Wisconsin N.O.R.M.L (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)
Contact:
Jay Kemp
Executive Director
SE Wisconsin NORML
Admins@SEWisconsinNORML.org
____________________________________________________________
South Eastern Wisconsin N.O.R.M.L. is proud to present “Breaking the Taboo” a documentary Narrated by Morgan Freeman. Find out why several world leaders – including two former US Presidents – are calling to end the War on Drugs.
SE Wisconsin NORML
Breakin’ The Taboo
The Miramar Theatre
2844 N. Oakland Ave.
Milwaukee WI
Friday, March 22nd
**Only $5 at the door**
Buy tickets online, or at the door:
http://www.themiramartheatre.com/event/239999?utm_source=MEL&utm_medium=28267
View the Breaking the Taboo trailer: http://www.breakingthetaboo.info/
8p – 9:30p Smooth Operators
9:30p – 10p First half of Breaking the Taboo
10p – 11:30p Mark Hubing & The Band of Lights
11:30p – 12p Second half of Breaking the Taboo
12a – 1a Mister E (DJ)
1a – 2a Alfonz Delamota (DJ) M.I.A. (Chicago) and MC Questionmark M.I.A. (U.K.)
Presented by Southeastern Wisconsin NORML:
https://www.facebook.com/SouthEasternWINORML
With support from Fresh Batch:
https://www.facebook.com/freshbatchproductions
Mark Hubing Band
https://www.facebook.com/markhubingband
Alfonz Delamota
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alfonz-DeLaMota/235722766465723
