OUTAGAMIE CONSIDERS DOWNGRADING MARIJUANA POSSESSION

People caught with marijuana for the first time in Outagamie County might
take a lighter hit from authorities under a proposal from a county supervisor.

On Tuesday, members of the county's Law Enforcement Committee and
Legislative and Audit Committee agreed to study a possible countywide
ordinance that would give police the option of issuing first-time drug
possession offenders a ticket instead of pursuing a misdemeanor charge.

The idea was suggested by Supv. Ed Thomas of Appleton, who said other
counties, such as Brown and Winnebago, have similar drug possession ordinances.

"This will give police and prosecutors another choice as to what to
charge," he said.

Thomas said some municipalities, like Appleton, have their own drug
possession ordinances, but other areas of the county do not. He said a
countywide ordinance would not prohibit police and prosecutors from
pursuing misdemeanor or felony charges.

The district attorney's office opposes the idea.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Carrie Schneider said she doubted that issuing ordinance
citations rather than misdemeanor charges would save the county money.

"First-time offenders do not go to jail," she said.

Instead, Schneider said, most enter into deferred prosecution agreements
that allow them to avoid a conviction if they successfully complete
community service, undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and remain crime
free.

She said the current system allows her office to obtain information about
the local drug trade.

"You learn who is providing the drugs," she said. "If you have tickets and
are citing them, you never know."

Thomas said today the arrest of his adult daughter on misdemeanor drug
possession charges earlier this year in Calumet County was not the reason
for his proposal.

He said his decision to ask for the county ordinance came after he read
about an attempt to get a county ordinance in La Crosse. "What I am trying
to do is get all our laws alike."

Post-Crescent staff writer John Lee contributed to this story.