Even though it was highly suspected, Republican lawmakers officially voted to remove over 400 points of interest from Governor Evers’ budget proposal. The Joint Finance Committee, led by two Republican lawmakers, held a vote to remove language establishing both medical cannabis and recreational cannabis programs. The final vote sat 12-4, with members voting along party lines. 12 Republicans were in favor of the removal of these points of interest while the four Democrats sat opposed. 

This isn’t the first time that Republican lawmakers have removed legalization language from the governor’s budget. They did the same thing two years ago with the last budget proposal from Governor Evers. 

Removal

The cannabis legalization language removed would have offered recreational and medical cannabis to the people of Wisconsin. A list of qualifying conditions for those diagnosed and prescribed by a licensed physician saw removal from the proposal. Then, recreational cannabis would have been legalized for citizens 21 and over. 

They could purchase and possess up to two ounces of cannabis at one time. Even those from out-of-state could possess cannabis. A significantly less amount at a quarter of an ounce, but it still offered outside citizens help. Citizens would have also been able to grow up to six plants in their house for their own personal use. 

Unfortunately, these measures, along with several others like Medicaid expansion, were struck down.

Lawmaker Response 

Both Governor Evers and Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes took to Twitter to express their opposition to these new changes to the budget proposal from Republican lawmakers. 

Lt. Governor said, “Today, Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee voted to remove nearly 400 initiatives from our budget—including items like BadgerCare expansion, marijuana legalization, and bold steps to address the climate crisis. They’re putting our economic recovery and our future at risk.”

Both lawmakers have spoken out at several debates and virtual town hall meetings with Wisconsin citizens, even during the ongoing global pandemic, about the importance of cannabis legalization.

Public Response

Many have expressed their disappointment in these changes to the budget proposal, again taking to Twitter. Many responded directly to the governor and lieutenant governor’s original tweets. 

Governor Evers previously responded to these concerns expressed by his citizens and has been saying the same thing for months. “In one of the rooms I work in at the Capitol, on the ceiling it says: ‘The will of the people is the law of the land,’”  Governor Evers said. “And I take that seriously. When people are passing referenda to say, ‘We believe that we should have recreational marijuana and/or medicinal marijuana,’ that’s what we should do as legislators and as leaders in the executive branch.” 

A recent poll from New Marquette Law School shows 59 percent of Wisconsin citizens are in favor of cannabis legalization. This is a huge increase from the previous poll, conducted in 2014. That poll showed only 46 percent of citizens were in favor of legalization. If the people are in favor of legalization, then lawmakers should listen and respect those opinions. 

It seems that legalization in Wisconsin will still be a few years away. In the mean time, many citizens travel to Illinois to purchase medical and recreational cannabis. Even with a large tax of up to 40 percent in some areas with state and local taxes added together. Legislation will start over again next year.

Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp related news.