Key Republican senator says it’s pointless to take up marijuana bill, dooming the effort
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) – A top Republican proponent of medical marijuana says there’s no appetite to pass legislation this year that would create state-run dispensaries, suggesting it’s pointless after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he would not compromise with the state Senate.
Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) said it would be “futile” to bring forth amendments to the bill due to Vos’ unwillingness to address Senate Republicans' concerns about a provision allowing the state to dispensing medical marijuana, instead of private entities.
“I don’t see anything happening [with the bill] this session,” Felzkowski told CBS 58. “I'm hoping that over the summer we can talk with our Assembly colleagues and hopefully come up with something that's a compromise and then truly get this done once and for all for Wisconsin.”
The Assembly is poised to pass the bill in February, Vos said, but without support in the Senate the proposal is likely doomed.
It would mark yet another legislative session where there’s momentum on the effort, then it comes to a screeching halt.
“We will have something ready for next time,” Felzkowski said when asked if she’ll be proposing legislation next year.
Felzkowski, who’s been the Senate’s lead advocate for medical cannabis and introduced bills in the past, said she met with Vos to discuss the proposal and "he did not budge” when she expressed opposition to allowing state-employed pharmacists to dispense medical marijuana.
“I took the [bill] to my caucus and they don’t like the state-owned dispensaries. We feel that’s a mistake,” Felzkowski said.
Wisconsin has discussed the topic of ending cannabis prohibition for years and most lawmakers agree legalization is likely to happen at some point, but the GOP-controlled Legislature has so far failed to pass any proposals.
“I’m confident that Wisconsin will legalize cannabis in due time, but it is too important of an issue for us to get it wrong,” said Democratic Sen. Melissa Agard, a longtime champion of marijuana legislation.
Gov. Tony Evers and Democrats have long pushed for legalizing recreational marijuana, but top Republicans have blocked those efforts.
Every state boarding Wisconsin has legalized marijuana to some extent. Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota have all legalized cannabis for recreational use. Iowa also implemented a medical program.
Similar to Minnesota, Wisconsin’s bill would require patients to verify their medical condition with a doctor before applying for a license. Cannabis would also be limited to patients with certain medical conditions including cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), seizure disorders, and multiple sclerosis.
Smokable marijuana would also be prohibited under the proposal. Instead, oils, pills, creams, gummies, and other forms would be available for patients.
“There’s like 80% of the Assembly bill that I think is great,” Felzkowski said. “We would just have to do a couple of tweaks.
Minnesota’s medical marijuana program was amended a few times after it was signed into law to lift some restrictions.
Evers told CBS 58 he would sign a medical marijuana bill, even if it's very regulated, but he’s been noncommittal about the latest proposal.
Support for ending cannabis prohibition in Wisconsin has been growing over the last few years. For the first time in over a decade, Republicans held a public hearing on a bill to legalize medical marijuana in 2022.
A series of Marquette University Law School polls have shown residents have board support for legalizing marijuana.