Democratic lawmakers seized the opportunity to move toward the legalization of medical marijuana in Wisconsin after a prominent state Republican expressed openness to the legislation.
Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, and Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, introduced a pair of bills Monday that address two separate facets of the issue.
The first bill would establish a basis of qualifying conditions, which, if met, would permit a patient to legally use marijuana.
The second piece of legislation would put the issue to voters in a nonbinding statewide referendum. Supporters hope a referendum would demonstrate public support for legalization to lawmakers who may not otherwise consider voting in favor of such a measure.
"This will lead to law-abiding citizens who have chronic diseases and health issues we can’t even begin to imagine, to put them in a situation where they don't have to break the law anymore," Erpenbach said.
The new bills from state Democrats follow Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, announcing he is open to legalization of medical marijuana for those in “sincere medical need.”
At a press conference Monday morning to announce the legislation, sponsors sought to make the case for legalization as an alternative to highly addictive and potentially harmful opioids, which are often prescribed for chronic pain.
Taylor and Erpenbach pointed to a pair of studies—from the University of Michigan and the Journal of the American Medical Association—which showed a 64 percent drop in opioid use from patients with chronic pain treated with marijuana and a 25 percent drop in opioid-related deaths in states in that have legalized the drug for medical purposes in some capacity.
Gov. Scott Walker called for a special session earlier this year to hear proposals to address heroin and opioid addiction in the state.
The reported urgency of the opioid epidemic in Wisconsin may aid in the passage of the Democratic lawmakers’ legislation, though expected widespread Republican opposition threatens to slow the bills’ traction.
