Wisconsin governor Tony Evers has proposed granting voters the power to introduce binding questions directly on the ballot to enact new laws. He cited widespread bipartisan support for issues like cannabis legalization, which the Republican-led legislature has consistently refused to address.
During a recent press conference, Evers announced his intention to include a proposal in the 2025/27 biennial budget allowing citizens to initiate ballot measures for constitutional or statutory changes, provided they receive majority approval.
Evers specifically highlighted popular issues such as the legalization and taxation of cannabis akin to alcohol, gun safety, abortion rights, and more financing for civic education. He accused GOP legislators of ignoring the will of Wisconsin’s residents despite public backing.
In 2022, the governor issued an executive order calling for a special legislative session to grant citizens the right to propose ballot initiatives. This move raised hopes among campaigners that voters could decide on marijuana legalization directly. However, the Republican-controlled legislature rejected the proposal.
Whether lawmakers support the governor’s upcoming budget request remains uncertain. Historically, they have declined to approve Evers’ past proposals, including his repeated calls to legalize medical and recreational marijuana.
Last month, Evers reaffirmed cannabis reform as a top priority for the 2025 legislative session, urging action amidst a budget surplus. A recent poll revealed that nearly 65% of rural voters in Wisconsin support legalizing marijuana, reflecting growing public approval.
In May, the governor expressed optimism that the 2024 elections might lead to Democratic legislative control, potentially paving the way for legalization. However, Republican legislators have consistently removed cannabis-related provisions from Evers’ budget requests.
Even modest attempts at marijuana reform have faced obstacles. Last year, a Democratic lawmaker attempted to introduce a medical cannabis compromise as an amendment to a kratom measure. The proposal was pulled from the agenda, allegedly to avoid a contentious debate.
Further complicating matters, a Republican-sponsored medical cannabis measure proposed in January was criticized for its restrictive nature, including a plan for state-controlled dispensaries. This drew opposition from within the Republican Party itself, with one senator arguing it contradicted free-market principles.
The Senate president recently expressed a willingness to discuss medical cannabis legalization in 2025, but the Assembly speaker remains a significant barrier.
Meanwhile, a fiscal analysis from the Revenue Department projected that legalization could generate an annual tax income of $170 million. A separate report estimated that Wisconsin citizens spent over $121 million on marijuana in neighboring Illinois in 2022, generating $36 million in tax income for the state.
Evers and fellow Democrats have reiterated their willingness to support a limited medical cannabis program as a starting point, even as they advocate for broader reforms.
Established marijuana firms like Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) in other jurisdictions hope that the people of Wisconsin one day get to enjoy the many benefits that medical and recreational users of cannabis in many other parts of the country are enjoying.
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