2022 Election Wisconsin State Senate
The stages are set for the General Election on November 8th, 2022. We have documented below information about candidates feelings and actions about marijuana reform. We hope you find this information helpful when it comes time to vote. There are of course a few candidates with no response or stance unknown, we will update those if we can obtain their stance on cannabis. If you have more information you would like to add, please do not hesitate to contact me or leave a comment below.
My Vote Wisconsin is a website designed to help you register to vote, find your polling place, vote absentee, view a sample ballot and so much more. If you are a first time voter or need more information, the www.MyVote.WI.gov can be a valuable resource.
Senate District 1
As an Assembly Representative he ignored constituents on the issue starting back in 2010. As a Senator he repeats his past performance. He is opposed to any cannabis reform.
Elder Law Attorney, former State Senate staffer.
She is in favor of legalizing cannabis across the board, for both medical and recreational purposes.
Senate District 3
We have Senator Carpenter labeled as kind of a cannabis reform supporter. We are not aware that he sponsored adult use or decriminalization measures.
In the past he was against medical marijuana patients growing their own medicine and it appears he has a change of heart as he did sponsor AB 570 in the 2019-20 session, which was medical marijuana legislation with home grows.
He was notable as missing in action (MIA) from the 2021-22 recreational marijuana bill.
During the 2022 campaign he did a candidate interview with WI EYE (19:03mark) he states he does support ending prohibition and legalizing adult use marijuana with restrictions on driving and work place safety, similar to alcohol.
He was a Milwaukee City Alderman from 2000 through 2004. His campaign immediately caught our attention because of his vocal support of legalizing marijuana for use by responsible adults. His campaign signs are themed with marijuana reform and are adorned by a bright green cannabis leaf.
Senate District 5
Republican assembly representative from Brookfield has not co-sponsored any legislation on marijuana reform since elected in 2012.
In 2018 his candidate interview said he is against recreational marijuana, he said marijuana is a gateway drug and is even hesitant on medical marijuana.
Jessica Katzenmeyer is 100% in favor of marijuana legalization and decriminalization. Recently we released my healthcare plan. As one of the 4 pillars of my healthcare plan includes legalizing marijuana for medical use which has shown more and more positive benefits for people who use it.
Senate District 7
Consistently Senator Larson sponsored Adult Use, Grow Your Own/Smoking Medical Marijuana and Decriminalization legislation and that is all we can ask. He frequently speaks about the need for cannabis reform in public.
Peter Gilbert told us he is not in favor of legalization because of impaired driving. The driving is bad enough already. Also it (marijuana) can lead to other dangerous drugs.
Senate District 9
As majority leader for the Republican Senate he killed all marijuana bills before him. He wants the FDA to regulate medical marijuana and will not move on recreational until a majority of his GOP colleagues are on board with legalization.
In August 2022, he faced two primary challengers who both supported full legalization.
Jarrod Schroeder is running as a write in candidate. He receive an A rating from NORML during the 2022 Smoke the Vote Project.
Putting people first for a better Wisconsin. Jarrod Schroeder is very vocal about his support for reforming the cannabis laws in Wisconsin. Turning back prior convictions is also a key component that the candidate feels is important to consider as we move forward.
Senate District 11
Voting NO to hemp along side Sentor Stroebel gives a clue into the mind of this legislator. Dismissing public polling and district support seals the deal on Senator Nass failing grade from NORML for consecutive sessions.
Steven Doelder has always supported the legalization of marijuana. It takes some pressure off our justice system, increases tax revenue, and provides for health care for many.
Senate District 13
Rep. Jagler has been “swayed” to support medical marijuana and sat on the committee for the 2019-20 medical marijuana bills. As a Republican he did not officially co-sponsor any medical marijuana legislation, but he did express the need for a public hearing on adult use / recreational marijuana and with a little work he could easily be a player legislator on medical marijuana and lead the conversation on cannabis reform within the Republican Party….. but wait
In 2022, he kind of shocked us and reversed his tune a little as he was on the committee that held a public hearing on medical marijuana. He was sick that day, but traveled down to Madison to make sure he read into testimony of the Wisconsin Medical Society, which was against the medical marijuana bill.
Senate District 15
Past co-sponsor of legalization measures and long time supporter of cannabis reform.
Contacted with no reply. No campaign facebook page, but I did call and leave a message and sent an email through his contact page on his campaign website; I suggest you do the same.
Senate District 17
After serving 12+ years in the legislature, Republican Senator Marklein has not really moved on his stance and has blocked reform efforts every chance he could.
Pat Skogen touches on medical marijuana during her Wisconsin Eye interview and expressed support for reforming the medical marijuana specifically. As far as recreational, she states has it been overcriminalized.
Senate District 19
Kristin Alfheim will support legalization efforts in Wisconsin and has recently worked to get the 2022 City of Appleton marijuana referendum on the ballot.
She says she is open to any innovative ways to bring in revenues. She said “other states have legalized adult use and we know the pros and cons, and many constituents have contacted her for support of adult use cannabis.
Republican leadership assigned her Room 420 North her first term in session.
In 2021-22, “RCG” was the only Republican to co-sponsor a medical marijuana measure that allowed home grows and smoking products.
Senate District 21
Republican Senator from Racine has not co-sponsored any legislation on marijuana reform since elected in 2010 and most likely will not move his stance of “just say no”. After coming off a nearly 30 year career with the Racine police force, he now serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. In April 2019 he wrote an entire op ed piece entitled Is it high time to legalize in Wisconsin? No … The harmful effects on health and society outweigh any potential benefits
Senate District 23
The leading prohibitionist in the Assembly, Rep. Jesse James was a co-sponsor of the 2019 Republican attempt to create a medical marijuana program (the “pill bill” that did not allow smoking products or home grows).
He has been outspoken as wanting to be the lead on stopping recreational marijuana reform from happening in Wisconsin. Long time prohibitionist and mega rich man Senator Duey Stroebel was listening when Rep. James was mouthing off, and the two have collaborated to concentrate on finding some way to increase penalties for cannabis use.
During the 2021 legislation session, Rep. Jesse James circulated a bill to increase the penalty levels for BHO, butane hash oil products, both manufacturing and simple possession. Author of SB 440 – Butane Hash Oil Enhanced Penalty Bill.
James is a Member of the Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse.
Dan Hardy is pro-legalization. Follow his campaign facebook page for information on his write in campaign
Senate District 25
Kelly Westlund has marijuana legalization as a priority and campaign issue. – source
In a recent referendum, 85% of voters in the City of Ashland supported legalizing recreational or medicinal marijuana for those over the age of 21.
It’s time that Wisconsin joins dozens of other states, including our neighbors in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, and Minnesota in marijuana policy reform.
Not only is it an opportunity to regulate and tax marijuana to generate much-needed revenues, it’s also a compassionate thing to do.
Marijuana can provide pain relief for people who are suffering without turning to opioids, and legalization can provide an opportunity to right the past wrongs that disproportionately harmed low-income people and communities of color.
The ability to regulate marijuana will ensure the safety of consumer products, and revenues generated by legal sales can address a variety of social needs from transitional housing to behavioral health treatment programs.
The 2019 GOP Spring Survey in his district showed 67% of his base supported medical marijuana and Quinn did end up co-sponsoring the Republican attempt to create a medical marijuana program. Since elected in 2014 Rep. Quinn has seemed like a marijuana reformer.
In 2022 he said this: “I don’t believe the government should stand in the way of somebody who has a chronic or terminal illness that could find relief by consuming marijuana in some form, which is why I also voted for “Right to Try” legislation when I was in the state assembly,” he said.
But Quinn doesn’t think the state is prepared for full legalization. “I also do not believe that those who use marijuana recreationally are bad people,” said Quinn. “If you go to work, pay your taxes, and don’t neglect your health or the health of your children, I have a hard time saying what you can or cannot do in the confines of your own home.
“The key concern for law enforcement, which is a group I would look to for guidance on this, is that there is no good way to tell when someone is driving high. Unless we expect our police to start performing blood draws on the side of the road, we need the technology to make sure our roadways are safe before expanding more opportunities for impaired driving.”
Senate District 27
Elected in 2012 Hesselbein, in past sessions she only co-sponsored Industrial Hemp and CBD. This Middleton area Democrat ran unopposed as an incumbent in 2018 and ended up co-sponsoring medical marijuana with home grows and smoking products, along with decriminalization for the 2019-2020 session.
During the 2021-22 session she and a majority of all Democrats co-sponsored Assembly Bill 846 to legalize adult use cannabis.
Robert Relph told us that marijuana reform is a touchy subject but an important one we need to address. If we chose to legalize it then I believe it needs to be treated like a liquor license and only certain licensed individuals should be able to sell it.
Senate District 29
Bob Look told us that marijuana should be legal and regulated by the state.
Cory Tomczyk told us that he supports medical marijuana and it should have been legal by now. But he cannot support outright legalization of marijuana for recreational use.
Senate District 31
Senator Smith sponsored both Adult Use / Recreational Marijuana and the medical marijuana bill that would allow home grows and smoking products for patients. He has a been a consistent voice of reason on the subject matter.
No public statements as of 9-12-22 and he has not conducted his WI EYE interview yet either as of 10-14-22. We contacted him twice and left one voice mail. His phone number is (715) 210-5224 and his Facebook Campaign Page is active.
Senate District 33
Senator Kapenga is proud of his prohibitionist stance and shared this quote “Legalizing the use of marijuana is not good for Wisconsin. If the use of marijuana really was harmless, an affirming dope-using vote by the legislature wouldn’t be necessary.”
Fall General Election November 8th, 2022
As part of the 2022 election coverage, we will take a closer look at the State Assembly Candidates in more detail, so stay tuned, stay educated and stay active!
