A ticket in Onalaska is punishable by a maximum $429 fine that can be cut by almost half if the offender takes a drug assessment class, which costs an additional $75 for an adult or $35 for a juvenile.

"That gets the person through the doors to talk to someone," said Onalaska Police Chief Jeff Trotnic, adding the majority participate.

Onalaska makes good use of its own possession ordinance, passed about 25 years ago, he said. Some officers think offenders prosecuted in municipal court are likely to receive stricter penalties than circuit court.

"Anytime there are options, it's always going to be appreciated and it's going to work out better," Trotnic said.

The decision comes down to whether the offender has a history of similar behavior, Trotnic said. That city's ordinance isn't limited only to first-timers.

La Crosse police Chief Ed Kondracki, though, told his city council he - and his officers - don't want that latitude.

He also opposed the policy change in 2001, when five circuit court judges requested the option of charging marijuana possession as an ordinance violation.