Wisconsin Examiner
Resolution to reduce cannabis fines in Milwaukee moves forward
Elizabeth Owens protests on the steps of New York City Hall in support of the proposed Fairness and Equity Act, which would attempt to reform racially biased arrests in regards to marijuana possession in New York state on July 9, 2014 in New York City. New York State recently passed a new law allowing medical marijuana usage. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee County Board’s Judiciary, Safety and General Services Committee approved a resolution at its March 11 meeting to reduce fines for cannabis possession to no more than $1. Under current law, possession of cannabis and paraphernalia can result in a fine of no less than $250, and not more than $500.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Sylvia Ortiz-Velez held a news conference to detail her proposed legislation that would reduce the fine for marijuana possession.
Moore Omokunde was elected to Crowley’s former seat as Representative of State Assembly District 17 in November. He resigned his seat on the County Board December 18th.
Moore Omokunde has been on the board since 2015, serving on a handful of committees. In a statement, he said he was “especially proud” of the county’s declaration of racism as a public health crisis and “the numerous resolutions and ordinance changes that have come from that declaration.”
Since 2016, he served as chair of the Health and Human Needs Committee, where he led the board’s effort in providing oversight of and crafting the county’s policy for youth detention. In that role, he was outspoken about the need to reform the way young people and children are cared for by the justice system and was an advocate for keeping kids in Milwaukee, closer to home when they are in the juvenile justice system.