AD 92: Clint Moses (R) vs Joe Plouff (D)

District 92 will be the new home to Rep. Clint Moses (R) under the redistricting maps for the 2024 general election as he is drawn into the district. Some political map experts give this district a small half point percentage to the GOP candidate, which really makes this a toss up district. While other election result number crunchers feel this district still leans Republican, every vote will matter.

Assembly District 92 is primarily located in western Wisconsin, the district comprises parts of southwest Chippewa County and central Dunn County. It includes the cities of Chippewa Falls and Menomonie and the parts of Eau Claire which fall in Chippewa County, along with the villages of Elk Mound and Lake Hallie.

Republican Clint Moses has all eyes on him, that is for sure. Not only in this election and now, but really the we been watching him to “do something” since elected back in 2020. I wrote many articles about this Rep. Moses and at the last I checked, leadership sent the GOP medical marijuana bill in which Moses was a co-author directly to the Assembly Committee Health, Aging and Long-Term Care that is Chaired by Rep. Clint Moses. Holy Moses, this guy currently has all the pressure on him and now that it is election time, he is running again.

Clint Moses (R-Menomonie)

Incumbent

Campaign Facebook Page Clint Moses for Wisconsin and Campaign Website

What we know

In his candidate interview from 2020 Rep. Clint Mosses said he used to be against marijuana in any form, but he does support medical now, because of his practice he witnessed patients use cannabis with great success, especially chronic pain. He goes onto state that any drug could be misused, like tobacco or alcohol.  – July 2, 2020 Candidate Interview.

His 2020 Candidate Questionnaire Answers on file, candidate supports the 2019-20 Assembly Bill 220 (adult use legalization) and received an Endorsement from NORML in the 2020 Election.

Rep. Clint Moses did co-sponsor cannabis decriminalization legislation his first term in office during the 2021-22 session, but was absent from the medical cannabis legislation Republicans presented during the same session. As one of the only Republicans even giving a little inclination that they would support the adult use legalization bill authored by Senator Agard (D) it is unfortunate that Rep. Moses was absent from the adult use legislation.

In 2022, Moses was labeled as one of the Republicans to Keep Our Eyes On in a detailed article about the Republicans who were trying to do something in this area of legislative needs. Unfortunately the 2023-24 session saw a repeat performance from Rep. Clint Moses on adult use legislation. The 2020 NORML Endorsement must not have meant anything to Rep. Moses, because he was again absent from co-sponsoring the adult use legislation. Rep. Moses was even absent from the decriminalization efforts this session.

What did he do?

The controversial medical cannabis legislation Robin Vos (R) authored this session was co-authored by Rep. Clint Moses. This legislation maybe in play in the Assembly, but the Republican Senate has yet to file any version of medical cannabis. Both houses need to pass identical legislation to become law. Assembly Bill 1040 was assured a public hearing a floor vote by Robin Vos and he sent his bill to the Assembly Committee Health, Aging and Long-Term Care that is Chaired by Rep. Clint Moses.

Main stream media covered the Republicans introduction of the bill in a variety of ways. Many of the news outlets just regurgitated the key notes from the GOP Assembly Press Events, but a few of them questioned the bill authors further on the topic of adult use legalization. Rep. Moses is reported to have said (re: legalization) “I think that’s a direction the Governor would definitely like to see it go. I think that he views this as a starting point and I do as well. I want to see how this goes safely first.”

Speaker Robin Vos (R) has always been critical of any medical marijuana program that would lead to a further push for recreational marijuana and has publicly threatened to kill the bill if any of that poison talk makes its way into the conversation. So although we applaud Moses for his continued support of reform we all wonder if the methodology he is using to ending prohibition is going to work.

What would work better?

Perhaps instead of competing medical marijuana bills or trying to pass a bill within the GOP Caucus alone, Republican politicians like Clint Moses should officially form The Wisconsin Cannabis Caucus and work on one bill together with the Democrats. The official establishment of this Caucus would represent the growing, bipartisan support in our Senate and Assembly for marijuana reform and could move along legislation much more effectively and efficiently, ensuring success for all of Wisconsinites.

For more information on the Republican medical cannabis bill, I authored two additional articles entitled Republican Marijuana Bill Needs Amending and I completed a co-sponsorship and committee assignment analysis in an article labeled 2024 Analysis of GOP Medical Cannabis Bill.

vs

Joseph Plouff (D-Menomonie)

Plouff is back from a break. Joe was an Assembly Rep from 1997 until 2005 and also served in the US Army, as well as sat on the Menomonie Common Council and Dunn County Board of Supervisors.

Believe it or not, back in 2003-04 session, yes over 20 years ago there were medical cannabis bills presented in the Wisconsin legislation and Joe Plouff was a co-sponsor!

Side note: Assembly Bill 892, which was Authored by Republican Gregg Underheim back in Feb 2003 attracted Plouff as a co-sponsor.

Joe and I chatted, he is a good guy and will do us right. He recently had this to say about pot: I am a Vietnam Era veteran. When home on leave I was denied the purchase of a beer. I was not yet 21. I do not believe in a two tier age discretion for freedoms. If an 18 year old and serve in our military he/she should be able to smoke a legal joint.

He has a campaign facebook page and campaign website.

Stay tuned and get active!

I will provide you additional 2024 Wisconsin State Election coverage throughout the campaign season. This next election is extremely important for marijuana reform and I will continue to bring you information as more candidates make their political moves.

In the event that we end up with divided government in the 2024-25 legislation session, the official formation of The Wisconsin Cannabis Caucus would be a must first step towards reform. The official establishment of this Caucus will represent the growing, bipartisan support in Wisconsin.

Although session as ended we still urge you to contact your elected officials. The top four action alerts are still functionable on The Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Action Network for you immediate use.

Sources: RPubs, CNanalysis (Lean Rep +6) WisPolitics /2024 Assembly Races (54% Rep), Davesredistircing, PeoplesMaps, Ballotpedia