2011-2012 legislative session adjourns; medical marijuana legislation fails to advance

Sadly, the late May adjournment of the 2011-2012 legislative session in Madison meant the death of the latest version of the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act. The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Mark Pocan (D – Madison) and Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D – Dane, Green, and Rock counties), would have exempted individuals with doctors' recommendations from state marijuana laws against possession and use of marijuana. In addition, the legislation would have set up a system of safe, reliable, and regulated access so that patients would not have to use the criminal market to access their medicine.

Unlike the 2009-2010 version of Rep. Pocan and Sen. Erpenbach's legislation, the 2011-2012 version was never given a hearing by the Republican-controlled legislature. Please consider emailing your legislators and asking them to support medical access to marijuana for the seriously ill when they return to work in 2013!

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.

With the reintroduction of the bill, it’s important to 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:

This is a compilation of patient testimony.

Click "watch" for 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! 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.