Deb Andraca (D) to challenge Jim Ott (R)
Republican Assembly Representative Jim Ott from Mequon has not co-sponsored any legislation on marijuana reform since elected in 2006.
During 2019, the Assembly Republicans prefiled a bill for the 2020 legislative session to create a medical marijuana program in Wisconsin (Assembly Bill 750) which he failed to co-sponsor.
March 2020 Republicans circulated a decriminalization bill for co-sponsorship which he did not co-sponsor.
Holds office State Assembly District 23 (map);
Link to Full Scorecard Grade for Rep. Jim Ott
Rep. Ott will be challenged in the November 2020 election by Deb Andraca from Whitefish Bay and here is her position on marijuana reform:
| Over three dozen US states and territories, not including Wisconsin, are regulating marijuana for medical and/or adult-use, despite marijuana’s federal illegality. Ending federal prohibition would alleviate the tension between these states and the US government and allow states to set their own policies free from federal interference. Do you support or oppose ending the federal prohibition of marijuana? |
| Support |
| Please provide a position statement regarding legalizing the medical use of marijuana. |
| According to the Mayo Clinic, studies show that medical marijuana can have possible benefits for various conditions, such as epilepsy, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Many states have legalized medical marijuana use. Wisconsin should allow doctors to make decisions that are best for their patients. |
| Do you support or oppose decriminalizing the simple possession of marijuana? |
| Support |
| Please provide a position statement regarding decriminalizing the simple possession of marijuana. |
| Decriminalizing the simple possession of marijuana simply makes sense. Marijuana is more comparable to alcohol and cigarettes than street drugs, yet we devote far too much taxpayer money and law enforcement resources prosecuting individuals caught with very small amounts. People of color have been disproportionately arrested and prosecuted, so legalizing marijuana will help end some of the racial disparities in the criminal justice system. |
| The prohibition of marijuana allows for the disproportionate criminalization of black and brown Wisconsinites, despite similar rates of consumption across all races and ethnicities. The impacts of marijuana criminalization are far reaching and include long-lasting collateral consequences well beyond the criminal charge. Do you support the automatic expungement of non-violent marijuana possession convictions? |
| Yes |
| Please provide a position statement regarding automatic expungement of non-violent marijuana possession convictions. |
| A person’s life should not be ruined over non-violent marijuana possession. A person should not struggle to find a job or a place to live because of a criminal record related to non-violent marijuana possession. This is especially true since people of color have been disproportionately impacted by these types of convictions. I applaud efforts seen recently in Los Angeles, where DA Jackie Lacey made a motion to dismiss nearly 66,000 marijuana convictions going back decades. |
| Legalizing the responsible adult-use of marijuana provides states the opportunity to take marijuana off the street corner and place it behind an age-verified counter to better provide for consumer and public safety and prevent youth access. Taxing and regulating the adult-use of marijuana also provides economic stimulus through job creation and tax revenue. Do you support or oppose legalizing and regulating the responsible use of marijuana by adults? |
| Support |
| Please provide a position statement regarding legalizing and regulating the responsible use of marijuana by adults. |
| I support the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Frankly, I have two teenage daughters and do worry about abuse of marijuana. However, in light of the fact that two surrounding states to Wisconsin have legalized marijuana, it is easier than ever to obtain it. If we want to control it, we should regulate and tax marijuana and limit sales to adults just like we do for alcohol and tobacco. We can learn from other states where it has been legalized and put forth best practices. Also, legalizing marijuana can, as discussed earlier, help remove one of the methods used to target people of color. |
Learn more about her campaign on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/debforwisconsin/ and visit her website for more information: https://www.facebook.com/debforwisconsin/
Learn more about how to register to vote at MyVote.wi.gov
Learn more about requesting an absentee ballot / voting by mail at MyVote.Wi.Gov
