APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Appleton Safety and Licensing Committee is recommending lower fines for marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession.
Appleton Common Council President Kyle Lobner says the conversations around marijuana aren’t what they used to be.
“And really from what it was when ordinances like this one were put in place.”
He sees Wednesday night as a chance to spark a new conversation.
“I think we are going to be able to work towards some compromise on this that allows us to make a decision that will lower these fines and make them more proportional to other offenses in our community.”
Two Appleton alders proposed dropping the fine for marijuana and drug paraphernalia from about $200 to $5.
Alders say this is because so many of Wisconsin’s neighboring states have fully legalized it.
Police Chief Todd Thomas says five dollars is too low.
Chief Thomas tells FOX 11 the police department is ready to revisit the topic as well.
“We do agree that it needs some modifying just because it hasn’t been adjusted for years and society’s views have changed.”
Chief Thomas says Appleton’s kids are one of the department’s main concerns.
“There is a lot of science that proves that it does damage to the brain until it’s developed, even a one time usage. So the message that we send to our community and send to our youth I think is really important.”
According to a report from Chief Thomas, most of the city’s marijuana fines went to adults in 2019.
31 of the 157 citations were to juveniles.
The committee is recommending a $50 fine for the first offense and a $100 fine for the second and subsequent offenses.
Lobner hopes this compromise will make fines more proportional without removing the options the police department has when identifying someone who may have a problem.
This recommendation will go to the Common Council for a final decision.
The council could vote on it as early as its next meeting on Wednesday.
