Chisholm Supports Fully Legal Pot
But only with adequate implementation and regulatory structures, he says.
District Attorney John Chisholm said this week that he favors marijuana legalization if there are adequate implementation and regulatory structures in place.
“Let’s come up with the best legal framework for allowing people to possess marijuana much as they do alcohol and tobacco,” he said during an interview.
If he can find the funding, Chisholm said, he would like to hold a one-day symposium in Milwaukee to explore how other states handled legalization implementation, the challenges they faced, and what they learned from their experiences.
Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis to some extent.
Wisconsin still is a full prohibition state. Second offense possession of marijuana of any amount still is a felony in the state.
Voters in 18 November referendums around the state indicated they favor cannabis legalization. Milwaukee County voters in every municipality favored legalization of recreational marijuana for adults.
Downsides to legalization, he said, could include impaired driving, and negative impacts on school performance and health.
“We just have to be cognizant of that,” he added.
In the meantime, he said, his office will continue to use alternatives to prosecution, including diversion efforts and defaulting to municipal tickets instead of criminal prosecutions, to reduce the number of marijuana cases flowing through the court system.
He said he would prosecute some cases, though, “until the law is changed.”
As a prosecutor, he said, he has significant discretion, but “it’s got to be on a rational basis.”
He can’t decide simply to not enforce the law, he said, adding:
“I’m not a super legislator.”
Gretchen Schuldt writes a blog for Wisconsin Justice Initiative, whose mission is “To improve the quality of justice in Wisconsin by educating the public about legal issues and encouraging civic engagement in and debate about the judicial system and its operation.
More about the Legalizing of Marijuana
- Republicans’ Medical Marijuana Bill Is Likely Dead - Baylor Spears - Feb 18th, 2024
- The State of Politics: Why GOP Divided on Medical Marijuana - Steven Walters - Jan 15th, 2024
- Bill Decriminalizes Marijuana Possession Under 14 Grams - Rich Kremer - Jan 15th, 2024
- GOP Proposal Supports Small, State-Run Medical Marijuana Program - Anya van Wagtendonk - Jan 8th, 2024
- Senate Democratic Leader Reacts to Republican Medical Marijuana Proposal - Dianne Hesselbein - Jan 8th, 2024
- Democrats Push Again to Legalize Marijuana - Erik Gunn - Sep 25th, 2023
- Senator Agard: Response to Speaker Vos’ Medical Marijuana Comments - State Sen. Melissa Agard, Senate Democratic Leader - Apr 20th, 2023
- State Residents Paid $36 Million in Illinois Marijuana Taxes in 2022 - Isiah Holmes - Mar 20th, 2023
- Wisconsinites Paid over $36 Million in Taxes to Illinois on Cannabis Purchases - State Sen. Melissa Agard, Senate Democratic Leader - Mar 16th, 2023
- Illinois, Michigan Gained $770 Million From Cannabis Taxes in 2022 - Katjusa Cisar - Mar 9th, 2023
Read more about Legalizing of Marijuana here
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