There are dueling legislative proposals to legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin — one from every occasion. However with disagreement over whether or not and the way Wisconsin may do that, the trail ahead isn’t clear, at the same time as greater than half the states within the U.S. already permit it.
Underneath a invoice launched Monday by Democrats, the Wisconsin Division of Well being Companies would set up a medical hashish registry accessible with a health care provider’s permission to these with debilitating situations together with most cancers and AIDS.
There would even be a licensing system for growers, producer and sellers below the state Division of Agriculture, Commerce and Shopper Safety. Underneath the proposal, by Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-West Level, and Rep. Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, a licensed producer would solely be allowed to distribute to licensed processors and could be prohibited from rising medical hashish for private, household or family use. The invoice additionally permits anybody to develop as much as 12 vegetation on their very own with out getting a license.
One other invoice launched by Republicans would create a Medical Marijuana Regulatory Fee below the state Division of Income. The invoice was launched final month by Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk, and Rep. Patrick Snyder, R-Schofield. Certified main care suppliers would have the choice to offer marijuana suggestions to their sufferers in a liquid, oil, capsule, tincture or topical kind.
Felzkowski mentioned smoking was not included as a result of some Meeting members had been involved final session about secondhand smoke to kids and others. The purpose now, she mentioned, is to begin discussing the problem. It is the second time Felzkowski has sponsored medical marijuana laws. She advocated for a similar bill in 2019.
Join day by day information!
Keep knowledgeable with WPR’s e mail publication.
“It’s a matter of getting the dialog began. Folks on either side of the aisle are in favor of it; folks on either side of the aisle are in opposition to it,” Felzkowski mentioned throughout a roundtable dialogue with different lawmakers hosted by Wisconsin Well being Information Tuesday.
Meeting Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers each help legalizing medical marijuana. Felzkowski mentioned Tuesday she hopes for a listening to on her invoice within the Senate, where if faces long odds. Sen. Majority Chief Devin Lemehieu, R-Oostburg, has argued states mustn’t transfer to legalize medical marijuana before the federal government.
In line with the Nationwide Convention of State Legislatures, 37 states permit for the medical use of hashish merchandise, with Mississippi being the latest.
Editor’s observe: This story has been up to date to incorporate further data on Sen. Jon Erpenbach and Rep. Dianne Hesselbein’s invoice.
