David Crowley Wins the Democratic Primary — A Look Back at His Cannabis Record

David Crowley has done it again.

This week, Crowley pulled off a surprisingly close victory in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, defeating state Rep. Francesca Hong by only a few thousand votes. Crowley now moves on to the November general election, where he will face Republican nominee Tom Tiffany.

For those who have followed Wisconsin politics and cannabis reform for a while, Crowley isn’t a new name.

Long before he became Milwaukee County Executive, Crowley served in the Wisconsin State Assembly representing the 17th Assembly District. And that’s where my own coverage of his record goes back nearly a decade.

Crowley Earned an “A” on My First Legislative Cannabis Scorecard

In 2017, I published what I consider my first official Wisconsin Legislative Scorecard, produced with NORML, looking at how legislators actually performed on cannabis-related legislation during the session.

The scorecard examined author and co-authored legislation involving a statewide referendum, decriminalization, medical marijuana, industrial hemp and CBD legislation.

David Crowley received an A.

His past record included support for AB 409 on decriminalization, AJR 7 dealing with a statewide marijuana referendum, AB 75 on medical marijuana, the industrial hemp legislation AB 147/AB 183, and AB 158 dealing with CBD.

That distinction is important because this wasn’t a score based on campaign rhetoric. It was based on what legislators actually did in Madison.

And Crowley stood out.

His Record Continued Beyond the 2017 Scorecard

My election coverage continued following cannabis positions as Crowley remained in the Assembly.

In the 2019-20 legislative session when Wisconsin lawmakers were considering additional marijuana proposals, Crowley was there.

Crowley’s broader cannabis record was also documented by NORML, which gave him an A+ and noted his sponsorship of adult-use, home-grow/medical marijuana and decriminalization legislation during past sessions.

So when I look back at the coverage from that period, there is a fairly consistent picture: David Crowley was one of the legislators who was willing to put his name behind cannabis reform.

That doesn’t mean every policy question was answered, or that every action produced the result advocates wanted. Wisconsin’s Legislature ultimately failed to deliver comprehensive cannabis legalization during those years.

But the legislative record matters.

From Assemblyman to Governor Candidate

Crowley left the Assembly and went on to become Milwaukee County Executive in 2020. Now, six years later, he has won the Democratic nomination for governor.

That makes the old record worth revisiting.

One of the reasons I started doing cannabis-focused election coverage in the first place was because voters shouldn’t have to rely exclusively on campaign advertisements or party talking points to figure out where candidates stand.

Look at the record.

Look at the bills they supported.

Look at what they sponsored.

Look at what they said when they were actually in a position to influence legislation.

That’s exactly what I tried to do with that first scorecard in 2017 — and it is still the philosophy behind my election coverage today.

The Work Continues in 2026

Wisconsin’s cannabis and hemp debate has changed dramatically since that first scorecard.

Today, we’re talking about medical marijuana, adult-use legalization, intoxicating hemp products, federal hemp policy, regulations that could determine the future of Wisconsin’s hemp businesses, and an entirely new generation of candidates who will shape these issues.

My 2026 Wisconsin Election Coverage is continuing that same work — tracking candidates, races, cannabis and hemp positions, legislation, campaign statements and the issues that matter to Wisconsin’s cannabis community.

And this work takes time.

It takes research. It takes contacting candidates. It takes following legislation. It takes publishing the information and making it accessible to voters, activists and businesses.

Hemp Businesses: Help Keep Independent Election Coverage Alive

If you’re a hemp business owner, cannabis business, farmer, retailer, manufacturer or other member of Wisconsin’s emerging hemp cannabis economy, now is the time to get involved.

I’m looking for businesses willing to sponsor the ongoing 2026 Wisconsin Election Coverage.

This isn’t about buying political influence. It’s about helping fund independent, cannabis-focused election journalism and activism so that Wisconsin voters can actually see where candidates stand on the issues affecting our industry.

The 2026 election is going to determine a tremendous amount about the future of hemp and cannabis in Wisconsin.

Help me keep asking the questions.
Help me keep digging into the records.
Help me keep putting the information in front of Wisconsin voters.

View the ongoing 2026 Wisconsin Election Coverage and learn about sponsorship opportunities. Individuals who appreciate my activism can leave me a tip or buying me a virtual joint, dab or cannadrink to keep me going!

The work I started with that first “A” for David Crowley in 2018 is still going.

And in 2026, we have a lot more elections to cover.