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La Crosse Council Eases Marijuana Enforcement

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) -- The La Crosse Common Council has passed an ordinance that decriminalizes possession of a small amount of marijuana.

The council Thursday night passed a local law that allows law enforcement to ticket, not criminally charge a person for first-time possession of 7 grams of marijuana or less.

Half of the ticket revenue would go to the police department's Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, also known as DARE. Council member Doug Happel opposed the move, saying it sends the wrong message about drug use.

The La Crosse Tribune says Mayor Matt Harter vetoed a similar measure in November.

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