How long can Wisconsin hold out as a state where the sale of marijuana is illegal?
Gov. Tony Evers hopes legalization will happen — within a few years.
Just a few days after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz passed Democratic legislation legalizing recreational marijuana in his state, the question has come up again in Wisconsin.
Evers told La Crosse area reporters last week that the idea of legal marijuana is very popular around the state.
“Any polling shows, and any advisory referendum shows that the people of Wisconsin want legalized marijuana,” Evers said.
“We are now an island,” he added, as Wisconsin is surrounded legalized recreational marijuana in Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Canada, while Iowa has legalized medical.
Evers wants to prevent Wisconsin residents from spending their money in bordering states to buy marijuana, but Republicans have been opposed to almost all consideration.
The governor said any effort to legalize marijuana will have to overcome strong Republican opposition.
Back in April, Republicans, who control the state Legislature, were said to be working privately on a medical marijuana bill. Assembly Speaker, Robin Vos, however, wouldn’t divulge the representatives who were drafting a bill, which died in committee.
Ten days later, Republicans killed a large portion of Evers’ budget, including legalizing recreational marijuana in Wisconsin.
“There’s some hope, though, on the issue of medicinal marijuana, but at the end of the…