Public Hearing Video from April 20, 2022
As reported by WisPolitics.com, Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) during a hearing on her bill to legalize medical marijuana asked speakers to focus on the legislation at hand and not on legalizing the drug for recreational use.
The Legislature has already gaveled out for the session, so it’s too late to send the bill to Gov. Tony Evers for action. Felzkowski, who chairs the Insurance, Licensing and Forestry committee, said Republican legislative leadership did not want to hold a hearing on the bill because it was introduced late in the session.
The GOP bill would create a program allowing registered patients to use medical marijuana and for “producers, processors, dispensaries, transporters, and laboratories” to conduct business in Wisconsin. The bill would also create a five-member Medical Marijuana Regulatory Commission under the Department of Revenue. If signed into law, health care professionals could only recommend medical marijuana in the form of a liquid, oil, pill, tincture or topical application. In addition, anyone with a prior drug conviction would be ineligible to operate a medical marijuana-related business in the state or to work in a dispensary.
Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) said she supports full marijuana legalization to combat mass incarceration. Taylor said though she wants more from the legislation, she understands the importance of taking one step at a time in order to make broader changes. Watch the full public hearing at: https://wiseye.org/player/?clientID=2789595964&eventID=2022041039