La Crosse County, Wisconsin Lowers Marijuana Possession Fine to Just $1

The change was approved Thursday night in an 18 to 11 vote by the County Board. Supervisor Monica Kruse supported the measure, arguing that continuing to impose significant penalties for marijuana possession makes little sense at the local level. “This shouldn’t be something that we need to do, municipality by municipality,” Kruse said. “It should be a statewide thing. But, if that’s the reality, then let’s come down on the side of sanity, and stop this arcane practice.”

Not everyone agreed. Supervisor David Hundt, who opposed the move, called the one-dollar fine “silly” and “trivial,” saying it sends the wrong message about drug use. He noted that the city of La Crosse already has a $1 fine for marijuana possession, meaning the change will have little practical effect in most cases.

The board first discussed the proposal in September but delayed a decision until this month. With Thursday’s vote, the county now mirrors the city’s symbolic approach, effectively minimizing local penalties for marijuana possession.

Under Wisconsin law, however, marijuana possession remains illegal. A first offense is treated as a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Any subsequent possession charge is a felony, carrying a potential sentence of up to 3.5 years in prison and fines reaching $10,000. While some municipalities, including La Crosse, have opted to set local fines at symbolic levels, state penalties still apply if charges are pursued at the state level.