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Wisconsin medical marijuana legalization debated at hearing
Proponents of legalizing marijuana in Wisconsin get their first chance to make their case at a public hearing of a legislative committee.
MILWAUKEE - The conversation has been at a standstill for years, but now medical marijuana advocates say they are hopeful. The topic was debated at the state Capitol on Wednesday, April 20.
It is not a conversation often held inside the Capitol, Wednesday being the first public hearing on loosening Wisconsin's marijuana laws.
"I did not know ‘420’ and the whole deal," said State Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma), saying the scheduling of the hearing was a coincidence.
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April 20 – otherwise known is 420 – is a day that traditionally celebrates marijuana. It also happened to be the day its medical use was up for debate.
"Thirty-seven other states don’t have it wrong. I think it’s time for Wisconsin to move in that direction," Felzkowski said.
Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison
Medical marijuana is legal in all four of neighboring states – Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota – but not in Wisconsin.
"Our state is an island of prohibition," said State Sen. Melissa Agard (D-Madison).
Republicans authored the bill, sponsored by Felzkowski. She is a cancer survivor and wants more treatment options, as does State Rep. John Macco (R-Ledgeview) who lost his wife to cancer.
"I want these resources to be available to other people fighting tough battles across our state," he said.
As the bill is written, medical marijuana would be available through a certified provider for people with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and post-traumatic stress disorder – but that is open to expand.
"My muscles get really tight, and it is really, really painful. My friends using cannabis feel better. I want to feel better," 13-year-old Nora Lowe said in a video played during the debate.
As it stands, the bill does not allow for people to grow the plant themselves and does not permit smoking marijuana.
The opposition during Wednesday's mainly stemmed from speakers who believe the bill does not go far enough – including those who are in the cannabis industry.
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"I also want full legal recreation and decriminalization," said Franklin Parr.
Some Democrats, like Agard, don't think it goes far enough either.
"I know the most dangerous thing about cannabis is it remains illegal," she said.
And many agree on taking the first step.
"Don’t let perfection get in the way of good," said Felzkowski.
Since the legislature is out of session for the year, 2023 is the soonest the bill could be voted on. In the past, Republicans who control the Senate and Assembly have not allowed any such bills to see the light of day.
This session in Wisconsin there were bills from Democrats and Republicans that would legalize medical marijuana, from Democrats that would also legalize it for recreational use, and a bipartisan measure that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana. All of those measures died when the Republican-controlled Legislature adjourned its session in February.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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