Kubisiak makes marijuana decriminalization topic in 72nd State Assembly District

In a recent interview with Ron Seely that appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal on October 27th, the topic of marijuana brought up again by a candidate out in the field seeking election to the Wisconsin State Assembly.  The 72nd State Assembly District is a neighbor district to the 41st district, home of Jay Selthofner, Independent Candidate for State Assembly and one of the most outspoken candidates on the issue of hemp, cannabis and marijuana reform.

The Wisconsin State Journal article entitled Candidate profiles: 72nd Assembly District highlighted  each candidate through a unique question and answer session, along with a overview of the candidates profile.  Thad Kubisiak is an Independent Candidate from Wisconsin Rapids when giving free reign to talk, it was about hemp and cannabis.  Republican Scott Krug and Incumbent (D) Marlin Schnieder, both also from Wisconsin Rapids did not take the same time to address marijuana reform, one of the most publicly supported change Wisconsin legislators could change.

The current assembly representative, Democrat Marlin Schnieder should be no stranger to the information and support for marijuana reform, especially medical marijuana.  The 72nd Assembly District is that of Julie Lassa, who has been reported to have had a hand in the 2010 death of Wisconsin’s medical marijuana legislation, “The Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act”.    But in 2007 the medical marijuana legislation included 2 sponsors and 11 cosponsors, 12 Democrats and 1 Republican included Marlin Schnieder. Noticeably absent was Schnieder from the 2009-2010 legislation regarding medical marijuana, Assembly Bill 554 .   It was widely reported that many voters contacted Schneider’s office in support of this legislation.

Anyways, the race is one and the question and answer by the Wisconsin State Journal was interesting.  Of course we had the usual questions:

What experience or insight do you bring to this race that your opponents don’t have?

To get the state economy moving again, the state should …

and also additional open questions such as

The current legislature spends too much time …

What one piece of legislation would you most like to see repealed?

Kubisiak response to the repeal question brings in the debate of marijuana reform, in specific legalization for decriminalization.  Obvious both are forms of reform, but which is a better path for model legislation?  And more importantly to us, will decriminalization help the previous questions or would legalization.  The article quoted Kubisiak as saying:

Kubisiak: “Do not confuse this with legalization of marijuana, but I would like to see the decriminalization of marijuana. I am paying too much of my paycheck to house and prosecute individuals who have been caught with a personal supply of marijuana. Mine, and everyone else’s tax money could be spent on other programs such as education and highways. I don’t smoke marijuana, but I really don’t care if someone else does, as long as it doesn’t disrupt society.”

With marijuana laws changing from the coast to coast, will Wisconsin be left behind or benefit the most?