The Governor of Wisconsin signed a bill that includes a controversial provision that blocks local governments from putting non-binding questions on the ballot. This policy has been used for years to show widespread support for marijuana legalization.
Gov. Gov.
Local referenda were used to gauge the mood of voters in a variety of issues. This included those championed and pushed by Democrats, such as cannabis legalization, abortion rights, which could theoretically increase turnout.
The GOP legislators included a number provisions in the legislation that were opposed by Democratic Members. However, the Governor signed the bill and called it a “historical” event that would empower localities to increase their sales tax rate to avoid bankruptcy.
Democrats, however, have criticised the elimination of the advisory question. In the last election, voters in five cities and three counties passed referenda that supported cannabis legalization. This reform is also backed by Wisconsin’s governor, but has been stalled in Madison under GOP leadership.
On Tuesday, Senate Minority leader Melissa Agard (D), told Marijuana Moment that local governments should receive adequate funding without any unnecessary conditions.
Agard, , who spoke to Marijuana Moment last month on the challenges of advancing marijuana reform amid GOP resistance, stated: “I am convinced that local leaders understand the unique needs and wants of their communities. It was shortsighted of Republican legislators to attach mandates with this vital funding. While I am vehemently against the policy strings, I do know that local funding increases are long overdue.
The advisory question clause in the
Bill
The law states that “county boards” may conduct a referendum at the county level
Useful for advisory purposes
“For the purpose of validating or ratifying a board-adopted resolution or ordinance, the board must receive approval at the referendum.”
It states that the county boards are not allowed to conduct a referendum unless it is for a advisory referendum on capital expenditures funded by a county property tax levied.
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The Republican Speaker of the Assembly announced last week that the caucus intends to introduce a medical cannabis bill by this summer. He stressed that the bill would be different from any other medical cannabis laws in the country.
The reported efforts of GOP colleagues in advancing medical cannabis reform have been skepticism among Democratic lawmakers. Evers and Agard are among those who have pushed for comprehensive legalization. However, cannabis issues have not advanced in the conservative legislative body.
The Governor said in January he believes Republicans will introduce medical marijuana legislation this session . He committed to signing the law as long as it is not “flawed”, with too many restrictions.
On this issue, the governor has had a strained working relationship with the GOP majority. The leadership has criticised Evers for including adult-use legalization as part of recent budget requests. Assembly Speaker warned this year, that including such a broad reform would jeopardize discussions on medical marijuana legislation.
At a joint hearing last month the Republicans responded in kind by removing both recreational and medical marijuana language from his budget proposal along with hundreds other policy items.
The state’s nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, at the request of the Senate Minority Leader, conducted a study in March that showed that Wisconsin residents would purchase more than $121,000,000 worth of marijuana in Illinois retailers by 2022. This will generate about $36,000,000 in state tax revenue.
In a separate report, published in February by Wisconsin Policy Forum, 50 percent of adults aged 21 or older in Wisconsin live within 75 miles of an out-of state cannabis retailer such as Illinois or Michigan. This percentage is likely to rise when Minnesota’s cannabis market opens.
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Photo by Mike Latimer.
The article Wisconsin governor signs bill with GOP provision blocking local marijuana legalization advisory questions first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
