GOP Bill Legalizes Medical Marijuana
But Fitzgerald and Vos immediately throw cold water on idea.
But already, the state Senate’s top Republican said he doesn’t support the bill and leaders in both houses of the Legislature downplayed its chances of passing.
The proposal by state Rep. Mary Felzkowski, R-Irma, and state Sen. Kathy Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls could still add momentum to a cause that has mostly been championed in Wisconsin by Democrats, including Gov. Tony Evers. Their bill would regulate the “cultivation, processing, testing, and dispensing” of medical marijuana in Wisconsin, which could be prescribed by doctors, physicians assistants and certified advanced practice nurses.
But Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, who has opposed other efforts to legalize medical marijuana, did so again Wednesday.
“I personally oppose this bill and I don’t believe there are the votes in our caucus to pass it,” Fitzgerald said in a brief written statement.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has been more open to supporting medical marijuana, but he also suggested this bill would not pass.
“As someone who supports a limited form of medical marijuana, I appreciate the efforts by Rep. Felzkowski to move the issue forward,” Vos said. “However, it’s clear that our caucus hasn’t reached a consensus.”
The proposal by Felzkowski and Bernier is significant because it’s the first time in the past decade that Republicans have taken the lead on legalizing medical marijuana, but this is hardly the first time the issue has been raised at the Wisconsin state capitoil.
“I sincerely hope politics does not get in the way of the heath care needs of Wisconsin families yet again,” said Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison.
Evers called for legalizing medical marijuana in the budget he introduced to the Legislature earlier this year, but that proposal was removed by GOP lawmakers. Evers also called for eliminating civil and criminal penalties for possession of up to 25 grams of marijuana.
Felzkowski, who battled breast cancer in 2014, told the Associated Press that she would have tried medical marijuana instead of opioids during her treatment if it had been a legal option.
Back in 2005, another cancer survivor, former Rep. Gregg Underheim, a Republican from Oshkosh, introduced a medical marijuana bill. That proposal never received a vote.
GOP Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Legalize Medical Marijuana was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
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
C’mon, Wisconsin! Legalize it. Gen Z and the millennials want it – both recreational and medical.
What’s all the putzing around for?