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Senate Introduces Medical Marijuana Bill
Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate are making what could be their last pitch to legalize marijuana only as medicine.
Senate President Mary Felzkowski on Monday introduced a medical marijuana plan.
“Forty other states allow for the legal use of medical cannabis products. After learning from the experiences in other states, this new legislation creates a program in Wisconsin to license growers, processors, labs, and dispensaries,” Felskowski said in a statement. “Additionally, the legislation includes safeguards to ensure that medical cannabis is not abused or accessed by those without a medical need.”
Those safeguards include the continued ban on marijuana possession and sales to anyone who does not have a medical marijuana card, and anyone who buys their marijuana from anyone other than a licensed dispensary.
The Senate plan would allow private companies to grow, process, and sell medical marijuana. An earlier version of another medical marijuana plan had the state running dispensaries.
Felskowski said the idea is to create a targeted program for sick people who want or need an alternative to traditional medicine.
“Someone who suffers from a serious health condition should not have to make the choice to travel to another state or break the law so they can try an alternative medicine for relief. This legislation is about giving our friends, family members, and neighbors suffering from a chronic illness the freedom to explore another option with their doctor,” she added. “This is also a chance for small businesses in our state to take part in this market with reasonable regulations on making and selling these products, all while still protecting public safety.”
Democrats at the Wisconsin Capitol have refused to support any medical marijuana plans from Republicans, hoping instead to push for full legalization if they can capture the legislature after next year’s elections.
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