Wisconsin GOP Lawmakers Introduce Restrictive Bill To Legalize Non-Smokable Medical Marijuana For Severe Illnesses

Wisconsin GOP unveils a medical cannabis bill limiting access to non-smokable forms for severe illnesses, reflecting a cautious shift.

Wisconsin’s Republican legislators introduced a medical marijuana bill on Monday that covers a short list of qualifying conditions that patients can only treat with non-smokable cannabis such as oils, gummies, tinctures and creams.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said the bill represents the maximum extent that Republicans are willing to go. The party holds significant majorities in both the Assembly and the Senate. Last year, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R), acknowledged the potential passage of a medical marijuana bill within this legislative session, contingent on stringent regulatory measures to confine its use to individuals with acute pain.

This development comes in the wake of Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ recent endorsement that he’d agree to whatever the GOP members decided, after years of deliberation

What’s In The Bill? Strict Eligibility And Limited Access

The newly revealed bill stipulates stringent eligibility criteria, limiting marijuana access to patients diagnosed with specific conditions, including cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, severe muscle spasms, and terminal illnesses, among others. Modeled after Minnesota’s previous medical marijuana law, the bill would grant access only through a physician’s diagnosis and will be limited to five state-run dispensaries, though Republican Representative Jon Plumer said this number could increase, reported The Associated Press.

Under this conservative proposal, qualifying patients can access non-smokable cannabis forms like oils, gummies, tinctures, and creams, with a doctor’s recommendation, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

Next Legislative Steps Amid Public Support For Legalization

The move comes as neighboring states like Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan have already legalized recreational marijuana. To become law, the Wisconsin bill must pass both legislative chambers and receive Evers’ signature. However, its prospects in the Senate remain uncertain, as it was drafted without involvement from Republican Senator Mary Felzkowski, a leading advocate for medical marijuana legalization.

Evers, while supporting the initiative’s direction, previously expressed a preference for a more comprehensive approach to meet Wisconsinites’ needs. Nonetheless, he says he’ll remain open to the limited progress achievable now.

Wisconsin’s stance on marijuana legalization remains an outlier compared to 38 US states with legalized medical marijuana and 24 with legal adult use. Public opinion, as reflected in Marquette University Law School polls, consistently shows strong support among Wisconsin residents for legalizing marijuana.

Photo credits: AP/Scott Bauer