The Democratic Governor of Wisconsin said he would be willing to sign a restrictive bill legalizing medical marijuana that GOP legislative leaders plan to introduce this week, so long as the proposal does not include “poison tablets”.
In a series interviews this week Gov. Tony Evers (D), a Democrat, said that while he believes in a comprehensive legalization of adult use, he is willing to sign limiting medical cannabis legislation as law for the time being.
He told the Associated Press that “I think getting it done all at once would be more thoughtful in terms of meeting the needs Wisconsinites who have requested it.” “But if this is what we can achieve right now, then I will support that.”
The GOP has made it clear that they won’t even entertain a discussion about legalizing adult-use marijuana. They have refused to hold hearings for Democratic reform proposals in multiple sessions. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said that the upcoming medical marijuana measure drafted by his caucus is intended to prevent a scenario in which it became widely available for recreational purposes.
“Do I believe we should consider recreational marijuana?” “Of course,” said Governor to News 3 Now. I’m in favor of it and so is a majority among the Wisconsin citizens. If this is a positive step, then let’s go for it.
Evers warned, however, he would sign a law that contained “poison tablets,” which are unrelated or extreme provisions, which could be inserted in otherwise acceptable legislation.
The Assembly speaker claimed that Republicans had reached a consensus after months of internal party discussions on the bill yet to be unveiled. However, it is unclear whether Democratic legislators who have pushed for comprehensive reform will agree with the incremental change.
Vos stated last month that he is “pretty sure” that the medical marijuana legislation will be approved by the legislature, even if “only Republican votes” are needed to get it through.
Evers said that, despite the limitations expected of the bill’s provisions, he was encouraged by the fact that the Speaker appears to have “changed” his mind about the idea of cannabis reform.
The governor said TMJ4 that he was “ready” for the situation. He added that he would “absolutely” sign the measure, even if it is just a small “step.”
He said: “I know that the state of Wisconsin has always shown in polls that its people are fine with both recreational and medicinal marijuana. Let’s talk and see what we come up with.”
“Do I believe that recreational marijuana should be a part of the discussion?” Evers separately told CBS. Let’s begin with medical marijuana and see what happens.
His support, again, is conditional. said to the Wisconsin State Journal he would only sign it if “it’s not full of poison pills.”
The speaker, has already previewed some provisions. explains that the reform will be limited to medical cannabis. Patients with serious illnesses such as cancer and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD), HIV, and chronic pain can access products in pill or oil form.
Vos stated that the law is modeled on a conservative medical cannabis law passed by Minnesota before it adopted broader legalization in this year.
The GOP leader had previously set timelines that did not materialize. This included an unmet goal of filing the legislation this past fall. The GOP leader has acknowledged frustration over the delay. However, he says it’s necessary to create a coalition large enough to pass the bill within his caucus.
—
Marijuana Moment has tracked more than 900 bills relating to cannabis, psychedelics, and drug policy in state legislatures as well as Congress this year. Patreon supporters who pledge at least $25/month gain access to our interactive charts, maps and hearing calendar.
Discover more about our marijuana bills tracker. Become a Patreon supporter to gain access.
—
While Republicans have been working on modest reform , they’ve found that Democratic efforts to push for adult-use cannabis legalization has complicated their work.
Sen. Melissa Agard, who is a sponsoring recreational legalization again this session has challenged that position. She pointed out that throughout the year, the GOP majority set the agenda, and that they could advance medical cannabis reform at any time, but have not done so.
Agard, who recently left his position as Senate Minority Leader to run for Dane County Executive, told Marijuana Moment in a recent interview that “the devil lies in the details when it comes to policy-making” and “actions are louder than words.”
This follows remarks made by Senate Majority leader Devin LeMahieu, (R), last month who said there was “potentially a” path to passing a medical cannabis bill in the session of 2024 — but it would have to be limited.
Agard has separately called on the public to pressurize their representatives to hold an hearing about her reform legislation.
Evers said, on his part, that Wisconsin has “lost out” to neighboring states that have implemented the reform due to the GOP’s inaction.
Evers said that it was time to legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana in Wisconsin, just like we do for alcohol. In November, he granted another round pardons . This included dozens of people who had prior marijuana convictions.
In November, the state Department of Revenue published a fiscal estimate of Agard’s legalization bill’s economic impact. The department projected that this reform would generate approximately $170 million in annual tax revenue.
A legislative analysis, requested by the leader of the minority, estimated that Wisconsin citizens spent over $121 million on marijuana in Illinois alone in the past year, generating tax revenues worth $36 million for the neighboring state.
The conservative legislature, however, has consistently resisted any reform, no matter how small. For example, removing marijuana proposals from Governor’s budget requests.
A bipartisan group of Wisconsin legislators introduced a measure last month to decriminalize the possession of marijuana . The sponsors hope that the noncommercial, limited reform will gain enough support to pass the state’s GOP controlled legislature. It could also become law alongside the separate medical cannabis legislation.
Minnesota adds new marijuana legalization advisory on criminal records while officials are ‘hard at work’ on expungements
Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
The post Wisconsin Gov. Says He Will ‘Absolutely Sign’ Limited GOP Medical Marijuana Bill Unless It Includes ‘Poison Pills first appeared on Marijuana Minute.
