Joel Brennan, WI Governor Candidate, legalize and tax it
Joel Brennan, a former cabinet official under Gov. Tony Evers and current president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, has officially entered the crowded Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor in the 2026 election.
Among the issues Brennan highlighted early in his campaign is cannabis policy in Wisconsin — a topic that’s gained increasing visibility as neighboring states reap tax revenue from legal recreational marijuana and as support for reform grows among Wisconsin voters. No mention of hemp or the currently struggle facing Wisconsin with regulating hemp derived cannabinoids.
While cannabis remains illegal for recreational use in Wisconsin under current law, Brennan has publicly expressed his support for legalizing marijuana and structuring it in a way that benefits communities and state priorities. Building on momentum from broader Democratic efforts and public sentiment around legalization, Brennan has said he supports taxing legal cannabis sales and directing that revenue toward key state needs, with revenue going toward public health challenges that need investments, citing the opioid crisis.
This stance places him in line with a growing wave of Democratic leaders nationwide who view regulated cannabis markets as both a justice issue and a potential source of new taxes, especially in states like Wisconsin that currently lose out on millions in tax dollars to neighboring states where adult-use cannabis is legal.
His position on marijuana legalization and revenue use will likely continue to be a talking point as the Democratic primary unfolds and as Wisconsin voters consider where candidates stand on changes to state policy and economic priorities.
As someone who follows cannabis and hemp policy closely, I know the news media doesn’t always ask the right questions. Too often, coverage relies on selective quotes pulled from short interviews, which can leave voters with only a surface-level understanding of where candidates truly stand. That’s why I will continue working directly with candidates and their campaigns to make sure they fully understand the real situation hemp and cannabis are facing in Wisconsin right now — not just in theory, but in practice.
Cannabis reform in Wisconsin isn’t a hypothetical talking point. We already have an active hemp-derived cannabis market operating under the federal THCa framework, and that market is under constant threat from poorly written legislation, regulatory overreach, and political gamesmanship. Any serious discussion about legalization should acknowledge the existing hemp cannabis industry, the jobs it supports, and the risks posed by bans or restrictive policy shifts that ignore federal law and market realities.
When it comes to taxation, I believe Wisconsin should first recognize the immediate fiscal benefits of ending cannabis prohibition itself — including savings in law enforcement, court costs, incarceration, and regulatory inefficiencies before rushing to impose high tax rates on an emerging and already-fragile industry. A smarter approach to cannabis reform would strengthen existing markets, protect small businesses, and allow the state to responsibly realize the benefits of legalization without repeating the mistakes seen elsewhere.
Going forward, my goal is to move candidates beyond generic pro- or anti-cannabis talking points and toward informed, actionable positions on the legislation actually in play today. Wisconsin voters — and Wisconsin cannabis stakeholders — deserve nothing less.
As always, thank you for the past support! If you are interested in sponsoring my 2026 Election Coverage, sponsorships are now open. Thank you to the all the businesses (and The Wisconsin Libertarian Party) for already coming aboard as sponsors! Another option to help is to come to my dispensary in Ripon and buy some supplies. Our store is stocked with products of the companies that are election coverage sponsors. You can also shop online on any of my affiliate programs I have partnered with. And last but not least, you can buy the new book I co-authored which is The Stoner’s Travel Guide to Wisconsin.
