Wisconsin is lagging behind its neighboring states when it comes to cannabis policy reform. While Michigan, Illinois, and Minnesota have already legalized cannabis for adult use, Wisconsin remains stuck in the past. It is one of the few states that still imposes jail time for simple possession of cannabis and is one of only twelve states without a compassionate medical cannabis law.
In Wisconsin, improving cannabis policies is not as straightforward as it is in other states. The state does not allow citizen-initiated ballot measures, so the only way to bring about change is to convince the legislature to act. Unfortunately, the GOP leaders in the legislature have repeatedly failed to even vote on any reforms, much to the frustration of the public.
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Sen. Melissa Agard, a Democrat, has consistently introduced legalization bills, garnering the support of 35 co-sponsors. However, these bills have always died in committee, unable to move forward.
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In early 2023, there was some hope that Wisconsin’s Republican legislative leaders would take action on medical cannabis. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu stated that his caucus was “close” to advancing medical cannabis legislation. Speaker Robin Vos, from the Assembly, also expressed support for a limited medical cannabis program. However, no concrete action has been taken since then. Vos announced in December 2023 that a limited bill would be proposed in January, but no such proposal has materialized thus far.
Meanwhile, in late 2023, bipartisan lawmakers circulated a co-sponsorship memo for a bill that aimed to “decriminalize” cannabis. The proposed legislation aimed to reduce the penalty for possession from possible jail time to a civil fine.
Interestingly, voters in Wisconsin are more progressive on cannabis issues than their legislative leaders. In November 2018, advisory questions were placed on the ballots, asking Wisconsin voters about their stance on cannabis laws. The results were overwhelmingly in favor of more humane cannabis laws, with medical cannabis questions receiving between 67% and 89% of the vote in the counties and cities where they appeared. Adult-use questions garnered between 60% and 76% of the vote.
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If you are passionate about cannabis policy reform, it is crucial to make your voice heard. Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support reducing the penalty for simple possession of cannabis to a modest civil fine. Let them know that it is high time for Wisconsin to allow medical cannabis.
In addition to the need for policy reform, the issue of unequal enforcement also plagues Wisconsin. The ACLU released a report in early 2020 highlighting the racial disparities in cannabis enforcement across states. Wisconsin ranked as the 14th worst state in terms of racial disparities, with Black individuals being 4.2 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession compared to white individuals, despite similar usage rates. While legalization does not completely eliminate unequal enforcement, it does significantly reduce the number of arrests. States with legalization laws generally have lower disparities in arrests.
To stay informed about the progress of marijuana policy reform in Wisconsin, be sure to subscribe to MPP’s alerts. By staying connected and actively participating in the conversation, you can help shape a more sensible and humane cannabis policy in the state.
Source: https://t-tees.com
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