Wisconsin Governor Considers Cannabis Reform In 2021 In An Effort To Boost Tax Revenue

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers says cannabis legalization could boost tax revenue for his state as a way to offset struggles brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

The prospect of adult use is up for consideration in Wisconsin' 2021 budget proposal, Evers told Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Nothing has been decided so far.

Some lawmakers, such as State Senator Chris Larson, have promised to sponsor legalization endeavors during the 2021 session. However, speculation suggests that the Republican-held legislature is not on board with the idea.

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Wisconsin Support

Marijuana Moment reports that many Wisconsin citizens are in favor of cannabis reform. Ballot questions passed in three jurisdictions in 2019, on the heels of 16 counties passing non-binding advisory questions related to cannabis legalization.

The local-level push for reform in Wisconsin continued as of late, with capital city Madison voting to remove the majority of possession and consumption penalties for anyone age 18 or over.

State-owned land is excluded from the regulations.

The law, which legalized up to one-ounce possession and use in both homes and public places, is said to have been passed to treat cannabis like alcohol.

However, revenue generation is not always what drives reform efforts in Wisconsin.

In early December, Madison Alder Samba Baldeh cited the disproportionate arrest rates of people of color as a driver for the bill's passage.