Wisc. Legislature convenes; call on lawmakers to stop cannabis arrests!

Tell your state legislators it’s past time they decriminalize cannabis.

Today, the Wisconsin Legislature reconvenes for the year. Because Wisconsin lacks a citizen initiative process, the legislature alone is responsible for crafting laws in the Badger State. Outrageously, Wisconsin’s cannabis laws are among the most out-of-step with voters of any state in the country.

While neighboring Michigan and Illinois have legalized cannabis for adults’ use, and Minnesota has a medical cannabis program, Wisconsin remains stubbornly behind the times. It is one of only 19 states that still imposes jail for simple possession of cannabis and one of only 14 that lacks a compassionate medical cannabis law.

Ask your state legislators to change that by supporting medical cannabis and decriminalization.

Although polling shows 66% of Wisconsin voters support full adult-use legalization, Wisconsin’s legislative leaders claimed in recent years they didn’t have the votes for even medical cannabis in their caucuses. Last April, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R) said, "We don’t have 17 votes in the [Republican] caucus for medicinal purposes or recreational purposes."

In 2019, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) said of his Assembly Republican caucus, "it’s clear that our caucus hasn’t reached a consensus." Neither chamber has moved a bill out of committee to give it a chance on the floor.

It’s crucial that lawmakers hear from their constituents that this is unacceptable. Some of the most conservative states in the county have passed medical cannabis. Suffering Wisconsinites deserve the same medical freedom.

Ask your state legislators to support medical cannabis and decriminalization, and then spread the word so that others can raise their voices for fair and compassionate cannabis policies.