A bipartisan group of Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced a cannabis decriminalization bill that would remove criminal penalties for the possession of up to half an ounce of cannabis.
Republican Rep. Shae Sortwell introduced Assembly Bill 861 Dec. 22 alongside Democratic Reps. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez and Dave Considine. Democratic Sen. Lena Taylor has since signed on as a cosponsor.
A.B. 861 would make simple cannabis possession offenses punishable by a maximum fine of $100, removing the threat of jail time, Forbes reported.
The bill would also make convictions for the possession of less than 28 grams of cannabis exempt from repeat offender laws, according to the news outlet.
A.B. 861 also decriminalizes the possession or use of drug paraphernalia by making such offenses punishable by a $10 fine.
While current law allows local jurisdictions to pass cannabis ordinances that outline additional fines for cannabis possession offenses, A.B. 861 would require local governments with such laws to set fines of at least $100 but not more than $250, according to Forbes. Judges would also be able to sentence those convicted of cannabis possession to community service in lieu of a fine.
The bill allows law enforcement officers to choose whether to arrest a suspected offender, Forbes reported, and also takes aim at cannabis in the workplace by limiting liability for employers who do not screen employees for cannabis.
Wisconsin remains one of only a handful of U.S. states that has not yet legalized cannabis for medical or adult use. Republican lawmakers plan to introduce a medical cannabis legalization bill sometime this month, according to Forbes, while Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Agard and Democratic Rep. Darrin Madison filed an adult-use legalization bill in September that is still pending.
