MADISON, Wis., Sept. 14 (UPI) -- During an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison Police Chief Mike Kova stated he believes marijuana should be legal, taxed and regulated. "We've done such an abysmal job using marijuana as a centerpiece of drug enforcement, that it's time to reorder and triage the necessities of what's more important now," Koval said.
He has learned that African-Americans in the city of Madison are 12 times more likely to be arrested for having marijuana than whites, even though African-Americans in the city don't use marijuana any more than whites do. He believes Wisconsin should follow in the foot steps of Colorado and Washington and stop arresting people and start making money off it. Koval said that the police would be better served going after criminals involved in the sale and distribution of heroin than trying to find marijuana sellers. In January of this year, State Rep. Melissa Sargent, D-Madison introduced a bill to legalize marijuana for recreational and medical purposes.
