Senator Agard Supports Governor Evers’ Budget Provision to Legalize and Tax Marijuana in Wisconsin
MADISON – Today, Governor Evers announced that he will include the legalization of marijuana for those over 21 in Wisconsin in his 2021-23 biennial state budget. Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) has been a champion for legalization since 2013, and released the following statement on the governor’s announcement:
Support for marijuana legalization has been steadily increasing in Wisconsin and across the nation:
- In 2019, a Marquette University Law Poll found that nearly 60 percent of Wisconsinites support the legalization of marijuana.
- Senator Agard introduced the first ever full legalization bill in Wisconsin in 2013. Since then, the number of cosponsors has more than tripled.
“I’ve often said it’s not a matter of if Wisconsin legalizes, it’s a matter of when. Prohibition does not work. This budget provision is about the prosperity, safety, and equity of all of our communities- communities of color who have been disproportionately impacted by decades-old racist policies, or our rural communities who need the additional sparsity aid Governor Evers has wisely included in this budget provision. As the GOP has left these communities behind, this budget proposal invests in our agricultural and entrepreneurial heritage with a Wisconsin only grower provision. Cannabis legalization will level the playing field and will start the process of undoing the wrongs done to Black and Brown Wisconsinites who have been arrested at wildly disproportionate rates, and providing our farmers with a tool to support their families. This is good for all of Wisconsin. Period.”
“During a global pandemic, this is a pragmatic, safe way to raise state revenues, refocus our priorities, and plant seeds in Wisconsin’s future. I’m grateful that the governor understands the importance of this by including full legalization in his state budget. I look forward to working with him to continue moving this issue forward,” Sen. Agard concluded.
More about the 2021-2023 Wisconsin Budget
- Evers’ Capital Budget Spends $2.4 Billion - Shawn Johnson and Rich Kremer - Feb 22nd, 2021
- The State of Politics: The Debate Over Local Sales Taxes - Steven Walters - Feb 22nd, 2021
- Evers Budget Restores Union Rights - Shawn Johnson - Feb 22nd, 2021
- Statement on Wisconsin Budget Proposal - Wisconsin Federation for Children - Feb 19th, 2021
- BLOC Responds to Evers’ Budget Address - Black Leaders Organizing for Communities - Feb 19th, 2021
- Gov. Evers’ Badger Bounceback Agenda Receives Bipartisan Praise, Support - Gov. Tony Evers - Feb 18th, 2021
- Americans for Prosperity – Wisconsin Responds to Gov. Evers’ Budget Proposal, Urges Fiscal Restraint - AFP Wisconsin - Feb 17th, 2021
- Senator Bradley: Scrap Governor Evers’ Budget, Start From Scratch - State Sen. Julian Bradley - Feb 17th, 2021
- Construction Business Group Supports Governor Evers’ State Budget Proposal - Construction Business Group - Feb 17th, 2021
- Gov. Evers Unveils $91 Billion Budget - Shawn Johnson and Laurel White - Feb 16th, 2021
Read more about 2021-2023 Wisconsin Budget here
More about the Legalizing of Marijuana
- Senator Agard Sends Letter to JFC Co-Chairs in Support of Keeping Legalization of Marijuana in State Budget - State Sen. Melissa Agard - Feb 10th, 2021
- Chairwoman Nicholson Supports County and State Efforts to End Marijuana Prohibition - County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson - Feb 10th, 2021
- MKE County: Resolution Cuts Pot Possession Fine to $1 - Graham Kilmer - Feb 9th, 2021
- Supervisor Ortiz-Velez Introduces Proposal Reducing Penalty for Marijuana Possession - Sup. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez - Feb 9th, 2021
- Wisconsin Would Use Marijuana Legalization to Pay For Education, Equity - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 7th, 2021
- Senator Agard Supports Governor Evers’ Budget Provision to Legalize and Tax Marijuana in Wisconsin - State Sen. Melissa Agard - Feb 7th, 2021
- Gov. Evers Proposes Legalizing Marijuana, Investing Portion of Revenue in Equity Initiatives and Rural Schools - Gov. Tony Evers - Feb 7th, 2021
- County Supervisors Back $1 Pot Penalty - Gretchen Schuldt - Feb 6th, 2021
- Cannabis Reform Gets Bipartisan Support - Isiah Holmes - Nov 8th, 2020
- A Day to Consider Legalizing Pot - Isiah Holmes - Apr 20th, 2020
Read more about Legalizing of Marijuana here
Mentioned in This Press Release
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