Author: Jon Henrich

Updated: Includes Milwaukee County referendum

Various counties in Wisconsin are working to get cannabis legalization referendums on the November 6th ballot: Dane, La Crosse, Brown, Winnebago, and Rock county.

Dane county approved one step in the Executive committee with a unanimous vote. It will be taken to the next County Board meeting on July 12th.

La Crosse is in the same position (including a transportation funding referendum). They are already working on the wording of the question:

“Should cannabis (marijuana) be legalized in Wisconsin for use by adults 21 years or older, and be taxed and regulated like alcohol?”

Brown County will add an advisory referendum (as opposed to binding), meaning it will merely gauge the opinion of citizens.

Winnebago did not collectively agree to introduce the advisory referendum, but will reconsider it in July.

Rock County is still working on an advisory referendum. It will need to be approved by August 28th to make the November ballot.  They are drafting the question as well:

“Should cannabis be legalized for adult use, taxed and regulated like alcohol, with the proceeds from the taxes used for education, healthcare and infrastructure?”

Marathon County is working on plans for their advisory referendum but is further behind than the counties above.

As reported by TMJ4 in May, a Milwaukee County Board Committee unanimously approved a proposal for an advisory referendum (again, not binding) on the November ballot. This still requires approval by the full board (confusing, right?).

The question proposed would allow citizens 21 or above to “engage in the personal use of marijuana, while also regulating commercial marijuana-related activities, and imposing a tax on the sale of marijuana.”

Notice it does not say “medical”. It says “personal”. As a reminder, TMJ4 mentions that the following states allow recreational cannabis usage: Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Alaska, Vermont, Massachusetts and Maine.

If you’re in Milwaukee County or nearby, remember to participate in the groups striving to get cannabis on our referendum. Grow the Vote has a meeting July 12th, 7pm, at the Riverwest Public House Cooperative (calendar).

Let these moments of progress sink in and give you the extra push to help someone else’s cause (or your own). All hope is not lost. The people (you) make change.

Sources and links:

Dane Legistar
TMJ4: Milwaukee County Board committee unanimously approves marijuana referendum
Grow the Vote July event
Cannabadger