Which Committee will Republicans send medical cannabis bills to die?
Competing medical marijuana bills are in session again for the close of the 2022 legislation cycle. The big question on our minds is which committee will Republicans send medical cannabis bills to die?
The first Republican decriminalization bill quickly disappeared from news after Governor Evers included taxation of adult use marijuana in his second budget. It was a shame because decriminalization was in Gov. Evers first budget, the municipality comply feature should not have caused the controversy it did and that bill could have passed. We all must remember that the district attorney has the power to not charge, charge at local ordinance OR charge at the state level!
Decriminalization. Fines not crimes!
Republicans went back to drawing board and came up with additional language and provisions for their decriminalization bill and re-circulated it. Republican leadership sent this newest bill to a different committee then the first version. Seems odd to me that they would have two decriminalization bills in two different committees, but is pretty evident Republicans do not want to move on the marijuana issue. Republicans have made it their pledge to put the least amount of legislation on the desk of Governor Evers to sign so they can call him a do nothing Governor come 2022 campaign season. They are not even trying to hide that fact……
The decriminalization bill (Senate Bill 790 / Assembly Bill 812) are stuck in the Senate Committee of Judiciary and Public Safety chaired by Senator Wanggaard and in the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety chaired by Rep. Spiros.


Decriminalization makes sense, but legalization makes cents and scents!
Back to pot though. Democrats circulated a bill for total legalization and a majority of the Democrats co-sponsored it. That was huge! The first time in history the Democrats are in favor of legalization! (I know, we are so far behind). None of the Republicans touched the adult use bill as a co-sponsor and none have said they would vote yes to it if by some miracle it hit their desk.
The legalization bill (Senate Bill 545 / Assembly Bill 846) are stuck with Wanggaard again as they (Republicans) sent the legalization bill to the former cop and same Senate Committee as the decriminalization bill (Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety), but lands in the Assembly Committee on State Affairs chaired by Rep. Swearingen.


Medical marijuana could be the compromise, but……
Republicans regurgitated their big pharma, no smoking, no home grows “medical marijuana bill” from last session. My gripe would be that if you did not significantly change the language from last session, why are you waiting until the session is almost over before submitting this bill? It should have been submitted like the first decriminalization bill, it should have been put out before the budget!
Democrats bill is better for Wisconsin patients!
The Democrats counter with their version of a medical marijuana program that is a little more patient focused, allows smoking products and will allow for patient/caregiver home grows. The Democrat bill attracted Republicans in past sessions, so there is a record of some Republicans supporting smoking medical marijuana and are okay with allowing patients to grow their own. The question is will they re-emerge as co-sponsors to this initiative again this session?
More Questions
The other question is: Where will Republican Leadership send these competing medical marijuana bills to die? Meaning, which committee will receive them? Neither bill has been assigned a bill number nor committee assignment, yet. Will we be dealing with Senator Wanggaard, Rep. Spiros and Rep. Swearingen again on these bills also?
We will be back to report on where this all leads to, in the meantime, make a phone call or two! Begin a cannabis conversation with your elected officials!