Medical Professionals Support Legalizing Cannabis
Cannabis prohibition further hurts racial disparities and poses issues for public health
MADISON – Across the country, attitudes towards cannabis legalization are shifting, with less than 10% of American supporting the continued prohibition of cannabis. Health officials are looking at cannabis legalization as a way to address disparities in communities of color as well as in public health.
Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) and Dr. Angela Janis released the following statements:
Senator Melissa Agard:
“The most dangerous thing about cannabis is that it remains illegal. Cannabis prohibition harms communities across our state through over-policed and outdated drug policies.
“Cannabis prohibition is more than a social justice and economic issue – it is a public health issue. As the state with the worst racial disparities, this needs to be a top priority for our state to right past wrongs.”
Angela Janis, MD, DFAPA:
“Cannabis criminalization laws are not effective and negatively impact public health. Arrests can have lifelong negative effects in one’s ability to access housing, employment, and education. These impacts can be especially significant for people of color given the significant disparities in the enforcement of the laws. We need policies that start to address Wisconsin’s significant health disparities, and cannabis legalization is one of the ways to achieve this.” — Angela Janis, MD, DFAPA
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
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