WI Gov says yes on pot..all pot...bravo Wisconsin, you are coming back

[jodymarie aimee]

Gov. Tony Evers calls for decriminalization of recreational marijuana use
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2019/02/17/tony-evers-calls-decriminalization-recreational-marijuana-use/2901119002/

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers wants to allow Wisconsin residents to carry or sell small amounts of marijuana and legalize its use for medical reasons, aides said Sunday. Evers will propose in his first state budget proposal to decriminalize marijuana if its users, manufacturers and distributors handle 25 grams or fewer and create Wisconsin's first medical marijuana program that would be regulated by the state's health and agriculture departments. The plan, to be unveiled Monday in the state Capitol, also would expunge convictions of possessing, manufacturing or selling 25 or fewer grams of marijuana from criminal records of those found guilty of such crimes in the past.

For perspective, 25 grams of marijuana could fit inside a standard Ziplock sandwich bag. Wisconsin is one of 17 states that has not legalized marijuana in some form. In the case of medical marijuana, growers use unprocessed marijuana plants or extracts to treat symptoms of illness or other medical conditions. Evers' plans might have trouble getting through the Republican-controlled Legislature, particularly in the state Senate, where leaders there have opposed legalizing marijuana use. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau in January said lawmakers would likely take any marijuana-related provision out of the budget because they want to limit the amount of policy in the state's next two-year spending plan. "I still don’t believe the support’s there within the Senate caucus to move in that direction, but I know that the debate's going on nationwide," Fitzgerald told reporters then.

Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, who leads the Legislature's powerful budget-writing committee, said in January she didn't think "there is strong support in the Legislature yet." But Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, in 2017 said he's open to the idea, and Attorney General Josh Kaul — a Democrat — also supports legalizing marijuana use. Under Evers' proposal, medical marijuana would be available to treat a "debilitating medical condition" diagnosed by doctors, including AIDS, Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Eligible users could consume the drug through any method, including smoking. The plan would cost about $1.6 million over the next two years and result in about $2.3 million in new tax revenue from sales of marijuana for medical use, Evers administration officials estimate.

Evers has said previously he would seek a tax structure that allows small marijuana growers to make money, rather than provide a pathway for large pharmaceutical companies to dominate the industry that could emerge from legalizing the drug. "I think the last thing the people of Wisconsin want as it relates to marijuana is that it eventually devolves into Pfizer running (the market),” he said in January. “I want it to be set up in a way that people in the state of Wisconsin feel comfortable that they can make some money by doing this work without having to essentially go broke."Under Evers' plan, all marijuana sold for medical uses must be grown in Wisconsin. Growers could cultivate up to 12 plants. Democrats have long pushed for medical marijuana to be legal in Wisconsin and voters supported legalization in referendums held in 16 counties during the November general election. A Marquette University Law School poll of Wisconsin voters in August found that 61 percent of respondents said marijuana should be fully legalized and regulated like alcohol while 36 percent opposed legalization. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved the cannabis plant as medicine, the agency has approved a CBD-based liquid medication for the treatment of two forms of severe childhood epilepsy. Wisconsin and 14 other states allow the use of only low-THC cannabidiol products by prescription. Evers' proposal would make CBD available to all regardless of doctor permission.

[RKP5637]

1. K&R!!! n/t

[riversedge]

2. Sen. Alberta Darling is the Mitch McConnell of Wisconsin. damn

......Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, who leads the Legislature's powerful budget-writing committee, said in January she didn't think "there is strong support in the Legislature yet." But

[jodymarie aimee]

3. I testified in front of her many times

and she is a witch extraordinaire...

[beachbum bob]

4. Canada legilized it, Illinois is about to legalize recreational pot, why would any border state not?

The tax revenue, the tourist dollar, the increased revenue AND ridding their jails and prisons of pot possession convictions. Cops hate the idea, prsion guards hate the idea, lawyers hate the idea, Big Pharma hates the idea and bar/restaurant owners hate the idea....in my book makes 100% great idea.

[jodymarie aimee]

5. because we got a decades old gerrymandered state.

since Walker...our Assembly is over 2/3 Rs....we cannot get anything passed..

[beachbum bob]

6. the revenue/tax side can be a major push for GOP to consider it as they see tourist dollars flock

elsewhere, convention leave Wisconsin, and revenues drop.

[jodymarie aimee]

7. you and I see logic

the Rs do not...WI was the playbook for Trump...lie lie lie...and no logic...just lust for power and their OWN $$$..our DEMs bang their heads against the walls...it is insane making to attend a session...which I have done since 2010....

[beachbum bob]

10. true, but we have seen GOP change. Kansas is now the state who has rejected the GOP/Koch bro

rule and we will see even more changes come out of Kansas in next couple elections. Pendulum swings back now.

[BlueWI]

18. No good reason not to legalize.

But not every state has done it.

[subana]

8. wow! Nice work, Wisconsin!!

that gives me a little hope. I'm in Oklahoma & we passed medical marijuana last year. Maybe someday we'll get recreational marijuana too!

[beachbum bob]

11. usually a 3 to 4 year gap until recreational pot happens in states that pass medical pot laws, the

revenue stream is undeniable and all the anti-pot crap is proven false. The hold of police/prison unions, lawyers, Big Pharma and the bar/restaurant industry is slipping.

[subana]

16. thanks for the info

the group that got medical marijuana passed was trying to put recreational marijana on the 2018 ballot but they were a few days too late for it to be voted on. But there is a lot of support for it here!

[Firestorm49]

9. I live in WI. We'll see how it plays out.

The Governor doesn’t have a whole lot of power since the crooks stacked the deck against the incoming Democratic Governor after the last election. Republicans deny any polling done that doesn’t overwhelmingly favor their position, so I don’t see this happening soon. Some brainiac on the news said that legalization could happen within 10 to 15 years. Wow! What a strong testament. 10 to 15 years. By then, .............

[workinclasszero]

15. "legalization could happen within 10 to 15 years"

Really? Damn.

I expect the democratic party will be pushing hard for federal legalization of cannabis when we take control back from the traitor GOP'ers.

Is there any democratic presidential hopeful that doesn't support pot legalization?

Even redstate tRump country Missouri voted in medical MJ in the last election, how is Wisconsin gonna hold out for 10 to 15 years while the rest of the country is watching billions of tax dollars roll in from pot?

[whistler162]

12. What about kettle?

[IronLionZion]

13. Maybe there's hope for Wisconsin yet

many Wisconsinites need to chill out and not be so right wing

[Botany]

14. Badger Buds!

n/t

[Joe Nation]

17. Illinois... Da Buds!

n/t