One dollar is still a dollar too much. Nonetheless, Wisconsin inches toward more reasonable drug laws with a recent compromise regarding cannabis use in Milwaukee County. Under the new policy, the fine for possession of marijuana will be reduced to only $1, a move that seems almost petty in retrospect. Although the illegalization of cannabis is generally frowned upon nationwide, decreasing its fine is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.
Marijuana charges are currently $275 in the state. When you account for court fees and other superfluous yet inevitable taxes, the fines typically add up to about $500. So, possession fines are not actually $1,they’re about $225. Don’t get me wrong, it’s refreshing to hear that the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of this slight reformation, but the state’s tendency to place revenue above public interest feels out-of-touch, money hungry, and unnerving to say the least.
It’s no secret that drug laws and their enforcers have a history of targeting minorities at disproportionate rates. Although there’s no significant difference between the rates at which different races use the substance, the risk of arrest on a cannabis charge is roughly four times higher for Black people than for white people. The continuation of marijuana illegalization keeps minorities at higher risks of incarceration, with an unsettling eagerness for revenue at the root of it all.
Despite the flaws within Wisconsin’s current drug policies, Milwaukee’s fine reduction marks a change of heart for the state. Progress happens one step at a time, and Milwaukeeans should be optimistic that their marijuana policies will improve even more in the near future. If a previous conviction is standing in your way, it’s time to wipe your record clean with seamless and affordable expunction packages from Easy Expunctions. Get in touch with us at (877) 959-4083 or visit EasyExpunctions.com to learn more.