Wisconsin lawmakers introduce medical marijuana bill

MADISON — Three legislators have introduced a bill that would legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin.

Sens. Jon Erpenbach and Patrick Testin along with Rep. Chris Taylor introduced the bill Friday. Erpenbach and Taylor are Democrats. Testin is a Republican.

The bill would require patients to get a doctor's recommendation. State health officials would have to create a registry system and agriculture officials would have to create a licensing system for growers, producers and sellers.

The bill faces an uphill fight in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has been open to legalizing medical marijuana for years but Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has said he doesn't support it.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposed legalizing medical marijuana in the state budget but Republicans removed the provision from the final spending plan.