Gov. Jim Doyle said Wednesday he would not oppose the legalization of medicinal marijuana in Wisconsin.
At an appearance in Wausau earlier this week, Doyle spoke with reporters and commented on the decision by the U.S. Department of Justice to no longer prosecute suppliers or users of medicinal marijuana in states where its use is legal as long as state law is being followed.
Lee Sensenbrenner, spokesperson for the governor, clarified Doyle's comments.
""As a former prosecutor, [Doyle] saw why the Justice Department would not want to devote resources to cases in which state law was being followed,"" Sensenbrenner said.
""It doesn't make a lot of sense for the United States Department of Justice to pursue people who are potentially glaucoma patients or suffering [from other] severe illnesses,"" he added. ""It's probably less dangerous than [other things] a doctor can prescribe.""
According to Sensenbrenner, the governor would potentially be supportive of state legislation allowing prescribed marijuana, as long as it does not open up a ""loophole"" for other marijuana use. However, he said the governor will not actively push any bill through the legislature.
""That's up to the legislature to take that up if that's their intent,"" Sensenbrenner said.
State Senate Minority Leader Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, would not support any medicinal marijuana legislation, according to spokesperson Kimber Liedl.
""He just feels that the dangers outweigh its benefits,"" Liedl said.
The national debate surrounding legalization of medicinal marijuana is not strictly partisan. Each side of the debate has support from both ends of the political spectrum. U.S. Reps. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and Ron Paul, R-Texas, would both support legislation, and former President Bill Clinton, as well as conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh, would both be opposed.
Currently 12 states, including neighboring Michigan, allow the use of medicinal marijuana.
