Senate 24: Patrick Testin (R) vs Collin McNamara

Senate District 24 is located in west-central Wisconsin, the district comprises all of Jackson County, most of Juneau County, most of northern Adams County, eastern and northern Monroe County, southern Wood County, and central and southwest Portage County. It contains the cities of Black River Falls, Stevens Point, Tomah, and Wisconsin Rapids, and the U.S. Army base Fort McCoy.

Although this is not listed as a competitive Senate Race, we need to put the pressure back on Senator Testin (R) to do the right thing for Wisconsin and help end the horrors of cannabis prohibition.

Incumbent Patrick Testin (R)

Testin is the first Republican to have signed their name to a medical marijuana bill in nearly two decades and I respect him for that. He knows what is right and wrong. Medical Marijuana was supported and co-sponsored in the Senate by Republican Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point). He was lead sponsor on the Republican side in 2019 on a medical marijuana bill allowing smoking products and home grows.  This is the first time a Republican signed their name to a bill in nearly two decades. Since that time he has been very quiet, too quiet on the issue of cannabis reform.

He only did that one session because he said he took too much heat from Republican leadership for doing so. No doubt friendly Republicans fear having a shitty office assignment, being excluded from committee appointments and just general harassment from their leadership for supporting cannabis reform. No one deserves a “nickname” with racist undertones being applied by their boss and it should not be happening at this level in our state elected body, but it does. These people are all human and humans are cruel to each other too often.

Back to Testin

Recently in his district the City of Stevens Point passed the 2022 recreational marijuana referendum by over 74%. Also in 2022 Stevens Point City Council voted 8-3 to further decriminalize marijuana within its boundaries by setting fines for possession at $5 plus court costs for people 18 years or older.

Will he eventually will buck his leadership position on cannabis and do the right thing? He is trending and acting like the answer is no.

I used to think this politician was straight up on the issue, but in 2023 Testin claimed there are still roadblocks to getting weed decriminalized and added that public safety concerns outweigh any economic benefits having a decriminalized marijuana program would bring.

I think we really need to educate him again, he is even now mixing up his facts on “decriminalization” and “legalization”. Once a strong politician on this issue, free thinker and one who would respond to the will of the people, it seems Testin has now just become a GOP pitchman for continued prohibition.

Give him a message on his campaign Facebook page, send him an email at info@patricktestin.com or contact him through his campaign website. And if you are a Republican voter in this district, well put the pressure on your candidate!

VS

Collin McNamara (D)

There are 99 state Assembly seats and 16 state Senate seats on the ballot this November. The ACLU of Wisconsin sent a questionnaire to all candidates to gauge their positions on access to contraception and IVF, classroom censorship, marijuana legalization, and more.

Collin McNamara has indicated the he does support legalization of cannabis for Wisconsin.

You can find out more about the campaign of Collin McNamara on his campaign facebook page and campaign website.

Stay tuned and get active!

I will provide you additional 2024 Wisconsin State Election coverage throughout the campaign season. This next election is extremely important for marijuana reform and I will continue to bring you information as more candidates make their political moves.

In the event that we end up with divided government in the 2024-25 legislation session, the official formation of The Wisconsin Cannabis Caucus would be a must first step towards reform. The official establishment of this Caucus will represent the growing, bipartisan support in Wisconsin.

Although session as ended we still urge you to contact your elected officials. The top four action alerts are still functionable on The Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Action Network for you immediate use.

Sources: CNanalysis, WisPolitics /2024 Senate Races, Davesredistircing, PeoplesMaps