IT'S HIGH TIME

In the face of shrinking budgets, increased methamphetamine production
and growing crime rates, the Dane County district attorney's office is
going on record to say the county will not file criminal charges for
possession of small amounts of marijuana. Dane County District
Attorney Brian Blanchard told The Associated Press early this week
that state funding has not kept pace with the county's growing
population, and his shrinking staff will soon fall to its lowest level
since 1988.

This policy is a welcome attempt toward freeing up resources,
especially as area law enforcement officials devise new strategies
aimed at reducing more pressing criminal activity. The Madison
community should be pleased that the district attorney's office has
its priorities straight and is more interested in protecting potential
victims than creating criminals. They have correctly acknowledged that
possession of less than 25 grams of marijuana does not constitute a
serious threat to public safety. Thus, criminally prosecuting such
minor cases would represent a gross misuse of the department's already
sparse funding.

In addition to the recent announcement, Assistant District Attorney
Mike Verveer told a Badger Herald reporter this week the district
attorney's office has already "been following this policy in an
informal way for quite some time."

We are also pleased by what seems to be a trend toward codifying
unwritten policies within Madison's public agencies. According to some
sources in the city government, the Alcohol License Review Committee's
Alcohol Density Plan - though incredibly flawed - also seeks to codify
unwritten policy, and the Madison Police Department released written
interviewing procedures last week that have already been in use. The
public deserves transparency from its civil servants and local
government, and publishing public policy spurs debate and encourages
policy refinement - which is always a good thing.

Despite the new guidelines, marijuana possession can still attract a
fine of up to $1,000 - so don't break out the bong just yet. Further,
criminal charges may still be filed against people who commit
additional offenses. This policy is not meant to sanction or promote
the use of marijuana; instead, it aims to give the offense a level of
priority that reflects reality. This common-sense plan will help
alleviate strain on the district attorney's office and police
resources, allowing the local government to focus its efforts on more
serious offenders.