Will 2013 bring protection for patients in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin State Legislature is back in session, bringing renewed hope that 2013 will be the year that lawmakers final protect the seriously ill and suffering in the Badger State from arrest and prosecution for using medical marijuana under their physicians’ recommendations. Lawmakers have previously debated the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act, but it failed to advance past committee hearings. Please consider emailing your legislators and asking them to support medical access to marijuana for the seriously ill in 2013!
Wisconsin lawmakers should also consider removing the threat of jail time for marijuana possession by making it a civil, non-arrestable offense. This sensible policy change would allow law enforcement to focus on violent crimes. It would also help reduce the consequences of alarming racial disparities in marijuana enforcement. According to the ACLU, African-Americans in Wisconsin are almost six times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession as their white neighbors are.
Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act heard in committee (2009)
On December 15, 2009, a joint health committee met to hear arguments for and against the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act. The hearing room was packed with patients, activists, and supporters all there to help Wisconsin pass effective medical marijuana legislation. The committee heard from both patients and advocates, including Robert Capecchi of the Marijuana Policy Project. MPP appreciates all those who came out to support this bill and all those who have given time and effort but were unable to make the journey to Madison. Unfortunately, the bill was not given a committee vote before the regular session adjourned.
We expect medical marijuana legislation to be reintroduced in Madison, so please make sure your elected officials are aware that the public supports medical marijuana. Please ask them to co-sponsor this vital legislation.
For coverage of the 2009 hearing, please see the following videos:
Compilation of patient testimony.
Click to watch the "12/15/09 Joint Committee On Health" video archive for full hearing coverage.
The legal status of marijuana in Wisconsin
An individual in Wisconsin convicted of mere possession of less than an ounce of marijuana faces a sentence of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000! Ask your legislators to support legislation that replaces the threat of jail time and the disastrous criminal record that accompanies a criminal conviction for marijuana possession with a simple civil fine. You can also ask them to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older and to regulate it like alcohol. To learn more about marijuana usage rates, arrests, and related information in Wisconsin, please see Jon Gettman, Ph.D.'s report.
Stay connected
Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. If you have any questions concerning the status of marijuana policy reform in Wisconsin, you can contact MPP at state@mpp.org. Also, be sure to subscribe to MPP's free legislative alert service today if you haven't done so already.
