“Having a public listening to after session has already been gaveled-out is a cynical political ploy that provides individuals false hope in regards to the prospects of this laws.”
By Benjamin Yount, The Heart Sq.
Subsequent week’s listening to on a medical marijuana program for the state has already upset lots of the Democrats on the Wisconsin Capitol who’ve pushed for authorized marijuana within the state for years.
The Senate Committee on Insurance coverage, Licensing and Forestry on Monday scheduled a listening to for SB 1034, which might open a path for Wisconsin to deal with marijuana as medication. That listening to is scheduled for subsequent Wednesday, April 20.
“In one of many extra daring acts of cynicism I’ve seen in awhile, WI Republicans have scheduled a listening to for his or her horrible, discriminatory medical hashish invoice—for 4/20 of all days,” Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, mentioned on Twitter on Monday.
The invoice, which has no likelihood of passing this yr, does the next:
-Excludes victims of the drug conflict from being employed within the hashish business
-Permits employment discrimination in opposition to authorized customers
-Permits individuals fired for utilizing medical hashish to be denied unemployment— Senator Chris Larson (@SenChrisLarson) April 11, 2022
420 has been a part of marijuana lore for years.
Larson shouldn’t be alone in failing to seek out any humor within the scheduled listening to.
“Republicans are all discuss and no motion on the subject of legalization efforts in Wisconsin,” Sen. Melissa Agard, D-Madison, mentioned Monday.
Agard is maybe one of many greatest supporters of authorized marijuana within the state legislature. She’s been pushing for full legalization for years.
“For the second straight session, legislative Republicans have launched a late session, politically motivated invoice to attempt to idiot the individuals of Wisconsin into pondering they’re real about legalization,” Agard mentioned. “Having a public listening to after session has already been gaveled-out is a cynical political ploy that provides individuals false hope in regards to the prospects of this laws.”
The individuals of Wisconsin are prepared for hashish reform. It’s supported by the vast majority of the residents of our state, together with a majority of Republicans.
— Senator Melissa Agard 🌻 (@SenatorAgard) April 11, 2022
Wisconsin lawmakers largely wrapped-up their spring session on the finish of February. They aren’t anticipated to take any substantial motion till after November’s election.
Republican Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk, who will lead the listening to mentioned what issues is that Wisconsin is taking its first step towards becoming a member of 37 different states in permitting sick individuals to make use of marijuana as medication.
“Whether or not you assume the invoice goes too far, or not far sufficient, what’s essential is that all of us come collectively to have an open, sincere and respectful dialogue about transferring this concept ahead,” Felzkowski mentioned Monday.
There are 18 states, plus Guam and the District of Columbia which have legalized leisure marijuana. Wisconsin’s neighbors Illinois and Michigan are on that checklist.