John Schroyer
Wisconsin GOP lawmakers in control of the state Senate have for the second time in two months voted down a proposal to legalize marijuana in their state.
According to Marijuana Moment, the state Senate on Wednesday killed a last-minute bill from Minority Leader Melissa Agard that would have legalized cannabis on a party-line 22-11 vote.
The move follows a prior committee vote by Senate Republicans in early May that also stripped marijuana legalization – a priority of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers – from the state budget, the Associated Press reported at the time.
Evers called the GOP move “foolish,” but Republicans have balked at full recreational legalization, though some Republican legislative leaders promised a medical cannabis legalization bill later this year, the AP reported.
The defeat of the legalization attempt also leaves Wisconsin surrounded by states that have repealed prohibition. Minnesota’s adult-use market is slated to launch sometime next year, and even conservative Iowa has a limited but functional medical cannabis market.
The situation left Wisconsin Democrats frustrated as they watch local residents drive to Illinois or Michigan to spend money on cannabis, with tax dollars flowing out of the state, Agard lamented to Marijuana Moment. She estimated that Wisconsin was missing out on $165 million in taxes per year by not legalizing, which she said is a “real revenue loss.”
One comment
Brian Kelly
June 29, 2023 at 9:20 pm
Legalize federally now. What’s legal to possess and consume in nearly half of The United States should not make you a criminal in states still being governed by woefully ignorant prohibitionist politicians.
Cannabis consumers in all states deserve and demand equal rights and protections under our laws that are currently afforded to the drinkers of far more dangerous and deadly, yet perfectly legal, widely accepted, endlessly advertised and even glorified as an All-American pastime, alcohol.
Plain and simple!
Legalize Nationwide Federally Now!
The “War on Cannabis” has been a complete and utter failure. It is the largest component of the broader yet equally unsuccessful “War on Drugs” that has cost our country over a trillion dollars.
Instead of The United States wasting Billions upon Billions more of our yearly tax dollars fighting a never ending “War on Cannabis”, lets generate Billions of dollars, and improve the deficit instead. Especially now, due to Covid-19. It’s a no brainer.
The Prohibition of Cannabis has also ruined the lives of many of our loved ones. In numbers greater than any other nation, our loved ones are being sent to jail and are being given permanent criminal records. Especially, if they happen to be of the “wrong” skin color or they happen to be from the “wrong” neighborhood. Which ruin their chances of employment for the rest of their lives, and for what reason?
Cannabis is much safer to consume than alcohol. Yet do we lock people up for choosing to drink?
Let’s end this hypocrisy now!
The government should never attempt to legislate morality by creating victim-less cannabis “crimes” because it simply does not work and costs the taxpayers a fortune.
Cannabis Legalization Nationwide is an inevitable reality that’s approaching much sooner than prohibitionists think and there is nothing they can do to stop it!
Legalize Nationwide Federally Now! Support Each and Every Cannabis Legalization Initiative!