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By Dries Van Thielen

On March 20, 2017, the city council of Monona, Wisconsin passed an ordinance to reduce the fine for marijuana possession. Where marijuana possession used to result in a $200 penalty, the fine is now reduced to a single dollar.

Since 2014, the citizens of Monona, WI, have been pleading for the legalization of marijuana. In March 2016, it seemed as their voice could no longer go unheard after 67.2% of the inhabitants voted in favor of legalization during an advisory referendum.

Still, the city council kept putting its foot down. Through fear mongering and unscientific claims, the members of the council muted the supplication of their almost 7.500 inhabitants.

This all changed on March 20, 2017 however. On Monday night, the city council voted on four distinct amendments regarding marijuana legalization. According to local news sources, the ordinance passed in a 4 to 3 vote.

From now on, possession of marijuana is allowed for citizens over the age of 21. Also, citizens can consume marijuana freely at their own property after the payment of a single dollar fine.

However, the consumption of marijuana and marijuana-related products in public is still illegal and will result in a $200 fine.

Best ordinance statewide!

Nate Petreman, executive director of Madison NORML, was delighted by the news. He told NORML:

“To succeed in our recent efforts, nearly 20 people attended each meeting along the way, many who were residents. These efforts resulted in the best known local ordinance statewide.”

Not everyone was pleased by the recent developments. The head of the local Police Department, Mr. Ostrenga, is worried. He told Channel 3000 that throughout the year, his department receives around 60 or 70 phone calls but Ostrenga expects these numbers to rise under the new regulation.

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