MADISON, Wis. — Over the years, more Wisconsinites on both sides of the aisle are supporting either recreational or medical marijuana legalization, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin.
In its report “The State of Cannabis,” the ACLU—a nonprofit that works to expand civil liberties—found 78% of Republicans, 84% of independents, and 95% of Democrats supported legalizing medical marijuana in Wisconsin.
“We’re really falling behind our neighboring states,” Amanda Merkwae, advocacy director for ACLU Wisconsin, said.
But those people are not emptying their wallets in a state where weed is not legal.
“Just in 2022 there was data showing that $121 million from Wisconsinites went to Illinois which contributed about $36 million in Illinois tax revenue,” Merkwae said.
The Wisconsin Legislative Bureau projected the state would earn about $165.8 million in tax revenue each year under Governor Tony Evers’s recreational legalization proposal from the 2021-2023 budget.
But according to Merkwae, this isn’t only hurting the state’s pocketbook.
“There’s a lot of significant social, human economic costs with marijuana’s continued criminalization,” she said.
The report found Black people in Wisconsin were 5.29 times more likely to be arrested for possessing marijuana, despite comparable national marijuana usage rates to White people.
“You come in contact with the criminal legal system, it could cost you your job, your housing, could destabilize the lives of your family or those who depend on you, and cause lifelong trauma,” Merkwae said. “A conviction can even do even more collateral damage. It could prevent you from renting an apartment or going to school, or landing a job, or accessing public assistance programs.”
According to the ACLU, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos proposed state-run dispensaries for medical marijuana last year, but the bill died without a public hearing.
The organization says legalization has enough bipartisan support to earn attention.
“For democracy’s sake, just give the people a public hearing to voice their opinions,” Merkwae said.
MADISON, Wis. — Over the years, more Wisconsinites on both sides of the aisle are supporting either recreational or medical marijuana legalization, according t Read More
