Chairwoman Nicholson Supports County and State Efforts to End Marijuana Prohibition
MILWAUKEE – Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson weighed in today on two new proposals related to marijuana use and possession at the state and local levels.
Yesterday County Supervisor Sylvia Ortiz-Velez detailed a proposal to reduce the fine for marijuana possession within Milwaukee County to no more than $1.
In a related move, Governor Tony Evers announced just a few days ago that he will include provisions to legalize medical and recreational marijuana in his upcoming state budget.
Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson released the following statement regarding these proposals:
“I applaud Governor Evers and my colleague Supervisor Ortiz-Velez on their respective proposals to legalize marijuana in the State of Wisconsin and significantly reduce the fine for marijuana possession in Milwaukee County.
“Legalizing and decriminalizing marijuana can help us work towards our goal of achieving racial equity and making Milwaukee County the healthiest in Wisconsin. We have seen time and time again that our drug laws have had a disproportionately negative impact on Black communities. Legalization in other states has often brought greater benefits to white and affluent communities by excluding those affected by the war on drugs from its associated economic opportunities. The proposals from Supervisor Ortiz-Velez and the Governor are great steps forward in righting the wrongs of the past.
“My hope is that the State Legislature includes Governor Evers’ proposal in the final state budget, but I understand this will be an uphill climb. This is why it is important that we do all that we can on the local level to decriminalize marijuana possession and free our constituents from the undue financial burden currently put upon those charged with possessing small amounts of marijuana.”
Nicholson previously voted in favor of a 2019 County resolution in support of Governor Evers’ proposals to legalize medical marijuana.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Legalizing of Marijuana
- A Better Wisconsin Together Renews Call for Cannabis Legalization - A Better Wisconsin Together - Apr 20th, 2024
- 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
Read more about Legalizing of Marijuana here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson
