Lukewarm Response to Assembly Republicans' Plan to Legalize Medical Marijuana in the State

Wednesday, January 10th, 2024 -- 12:01 PM

(AP) Wisconsin Assembly Republicans’ highly restrictive plan to legalize medical marijuana in the state drew a lukewarm response from Senate Republicans and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Monday.

The bill would limit medical marijuana only to severely ill people with chronic diseases such as cancer and allow for it to be dispensed at only five state-run locations. Smokable marijuana would not be allowed.

The measure is far from the full legalization that Evers and Democrats have pushed unsuccessfully to pass for years. Evers said last week that he supports creating a medical marijuana program if that’s all that can be done now, but he was noncommittal on the proposal floated Monday.

Evers will review the idea, and “he looks forward to hearing from Wisconsinites and other stakeholders as the bill moves through the legislative process,” the governor’s spokesperson Britt Cudaback said.

The bill would have to clear the Assembly and Senate and be signed by Evers before it could take effect.

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