Legislative Scorecard for 2019-2020. Part of the the comprehensive Smoke the Vote Candidate Scorecard and Voter Guide: https://vote.norml.org/

Dan Kapanke (R) vs Brad Pfaff (D) for Senate 32

ByJay Selthofner 09/20/202010/01/2022

The 32nd District of the Wisconsin Senate is located in western Wisconsin, and is composed of all of Crawford and La Crosse Counties, almost all of Vernon, and part of Monroe County.

The Democratic Primary held on Aug. 11 and the winner was Brad Pfaff. He will face Republican candidate, Dan Kapanke in the November general election. Research tells us Kapanke held the seat in the past, lost in a recall election and then again in 2016 Kapanke lost to now out going Senator Schilling by 56 votes.

In 2018 La Crosse County passed a medical marijuana referendum by 63% and just past July 2020 the City of La Crossse lowered the fine for marijuana possession to $1 and raised the possession limit to 25 grams.

A huge Senate race for sure as we will see a new face as the Incumbent Democratic Senator Jennifer Schiling does not seek re-election.

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On September 17, 2020, WisconsinEye senior producer Steve Walters interviewed Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse) who is running for the 32nd Senate District in the upcoming general election.

As we know Kapanke was an elected official before and did not reform any of our marijuana laws. He did not co-sponsor or help in any way. With no public statements on the issue, his silence is deadline…. but if you listen closely to his interview, he gives us a very cautious 20 seconds of his life to address the issue, we cued up the video to start at 9:07…. he is “very cautious” and it would have to be proven to him that it is absolutely needed and safe guards are in place for use.

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On July 2, 2020, WisconsinEye senior producer Steve Walters interviewed Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) who is running for the 32nd Senate District in the upcoming partisan primary election.

Brad Pfaff touches on the polling, medical professionals, medical conditions and the 33 states that have medical marijuana and he is here to have that conversation on medical; but on recreational he still thinks more talk is needed, recreational marijuana he needs to learn more and not ready move forward at this time on recreational.

General Election November 3rd, 2020.

Learn more about how to register to vote at https://norml.org/act/register-to-vote or MyVote.wi.gov

Learn more about requesting an absentee ballot / voting by mail at MyVote.Wi.Gov

News | Video

Press Conference: Building Unity for Just Budget

ByJay Selthofner Posted on02/05/2021 7:45 PM02/05/2021 7:46 PM

I spoke and testified at public hearings in the past. The last time we had a public hearing on medical marijuana in Wisconsin was over eleven (11) years ago. Wisconsin had a pretty good chance to pass medical marijuana legislation in the 2019-20 legislative cycle. Governor Tony Evers proposed both medical marijuana and decriminalization in that budget. Republicans gutted anything marijuana or cannabis related from the budget.

Republican leadership and Republican key committee chairs withheld several bills from even a public hearing, including a medical marijuana start up bill vetted by the Republican Caucus.

Still, the landscape in politics does change and coming off an election we can see which of our newly elected official stands up for our rights and which ones do not. Do not give up the fight! That is why I wrote an article entitled “Keep Bud in the Budget and Make Marijuana a Priority” in November of 2020.

Building Unity, A non-partisan multi-organizational project with the goal of building a well-organized united movement for peace, justice, sustainability, and democracy. The coalition wants to create opportunities to collaborate and focus on common needs and aspirations, which included the regulation and taxation of cannabis as a budget recommendation to Governor Evers for the 2021-22 Wisconsin Budget.

I recently testified about cannabis reform, legalization and taxation of marijuana at the Building Unity press conference and public hearing on February 4th, 2021 for a “Just Budget”. I archived the video of the conference below. I spoke at the 20:45 mark.

2022 Election Coverage | Elections | News

2022 Election – Wisconsin Federal Races

By2022 Election Coverage by Jay Selthofner Posted on10/22/2022 4:20 AM10/31/2022 2:03 PM

The stages are set for the General Election on November 8th, 2022. Documented below is information about the Wisconsin US Senate and Congressional candidates feelings and actions towards marijuana reform. We hope you find this information helpful when it comes time to vote.

There are of course a few candidates with no response or stance unknown. This is alarming. You would think the major pressure would be on federal candidates to address this issue. A recent article by the Brookings Institution entitled Congressional candidates’ silence on cannabis reform caught many activists attention. The article was in depth and you are encourage to read it. The summary of the analysis of the data is something that needs to be shared with you and is very evident in our Wisconsin Congressional candidates.

The article ends “In sum, cannabis as a political issue has risen in importance over the past 25 years. As state legislatures and voters via referenda have enacted changes to cannabis laws, the issue has become more popular even in the halls of Congress. However, cannabis reform advocates’ frequent stupefaction at the lack of progress at the federal level bumps up against a stark reality. Most candidates for federal office do not see cannabis as an issue prominent enough to discuss, and deep partisan differences still remain among elected officials, even as support for cannabis in the general public has exploded in recent years. And the true motivator for a member of Congress to take or change a position—whether voters hold their feet to the fire over an issue—has not yet become a reality in the vast majority of Congressional races across the United States.”

My Vote Wisconsin is a website designed to help you register to vote, find your polling place, vote absentee, view a sample ballot and so much more. If you are a first time voter or need more information, the www.MyVote.WI.gov can be a valuable resource.

Fall General Election is Tuesday November 8th, 2022.

US Senate

Senator Johnson has spoken out against recreational marijuana legalization many times. His opposition stance has grown stronger over the years he has been in office. He will say it is a states rights issue but has not really helped clear any barriers at the federal level. He has done nothing to help medical marijuana patients.

As a former State Assembly Representative and as Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes has been a champion of cannabis reform. His administration included marijuana reform in both budget proposals only to have the provisions removed by Republicans.

He has a deep understanding of the issue and all the moving parts at the federal level. Not only would he work on the issue at the federal, but his knowledge of the obstacles in Wisconsin would help craft a federal bill that would not leave Wisconsin behind.

Congressional District 1

Bryan Steil has not been to supportive of actual reform when he has a chance to vote and has offered no solutions to be considered by his colleagues. He voted NO to The MORE Act, he voted against preventing the Department of Justice from prosecuting cannabis users and businesses in states where recreational cannabis is legal.

Bryan Steil is not an advocate for recreational or medicinal marijuana legalization.

Ann Roe said “I support decriminalization as does the majority of our district.”

No response.

Congressional District 2

Mark Pocan is a vocal advocate for legalizing cannabis at a federal level. He has consistently voted in favor of progressive reform legislation, and calls for sensible marijuana laws.

As a consistent author/co-sponsor of cannabis legislation for years, he is an asset to the cannabis reform movement.

Contacted with no response.

Congressional District 3

After some back and forth with his office on the issue, Brad Pfaff did end up co-sponsoring the 2021-22 legislation to legalize adult use marijuana in Wisconsin. Source

Back in 2020 Derrick Van Orden participated in some facebook banter about cannabis reform with a veteran cannabis activist. Van Order replied “I support the legalization of medical marijuana, not recreational.” He goes onto add “That may not be popular position with some Republicans, but it has been proven to work for several different conditions. As a SEAL, we understand that if it works, it works.” Since that time, it seems Derrick has dodged the issue, candidate interviews and debates.

Congressional District 4

“The war on drugs ripped American families apart, falling especially hard on communities of color. Its effects continue to wreak havoc across the country.”

Gwen Moore is a consistent co-sponsor of cannabis reform at the federal level. She always has great insight and comments in the main stream media when asked about marijuana.

Contacted with no response.

Robert Raymond completed the 2020 Candiate Questionnaire and we are happy to report that he supports ending federal marijuana prohibition.

Congressional District 5

Fitzgerald was a NO to anything marijuana and even opposed allowing public hearings on his watch as a Wisconsin State Senator. He was labeled as an obstacle to decriminalization from even conservative measures by fellow Republicans going back to 2017.

His lack of compassion was just as evident as his lack of education on the issue of medical cannabis. The sick, dying and disabled of Wisconsin suffered under his control and patients within his districts ending up dying while being insulted by this prohibitionist.

Will money change Fitzgerald and his stance on cannabis? His first vote on the issue concerned money/banking and he voted yes to the 2021 Safe Banking Act …. maybe it was by mistake…..

He did vote NO to the 2022 Medical Marijuana Research Act and The More Act.

Cannabis reform is a campaign platform for Mike Van Someren:

We need to reduce sentencing guidelines for non-violent crime, especially for marijuana-related crimes. In fact, legalization of marijuana would free up significant police resources while also adding tax revenues to the state and allowing for the regulation of the production and sale of marijuana. A regulated marijuana industry not only provides tax revenue but also increases safety to consumers utilizing marijuana and removes a lucrative funding source from criminal organizations.

Congressional District 6

Voted in favor of the SAFE Banking Act of 2021, which allows banks to work with cannabis businesses that are legal at the state level. (2021)
Voted against the MORE Act, which would end the prohibition of cannabis at the federal level, expunge low-level cannabis convictions, and levy a tax on cannabis sales to fund grants for communities that have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition. (2020)
Voted against preventing the Justice Department from prosecuting cannabis users and businesses in states where recreational cannabis is legal. (2019)
Cosponsored the Charlotte’s Web Medical Access Act of 2015, which would have ended the federal prohibition of CBD. (2015)
Cosponsored the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2017, which would end the federal prohibition of industrial hemp.
Cosponsored the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, which would end the federal prohibition of industrial hemp.
Cosponsored LUMMA, which would move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule II and allow states to set their own medical cannabis policy.
Voted in favor of preventing the Justice Department from prosecuting medical cannabis patients and providers in states where it is legal. (2015)
Voted against preventing the Justice Department from prosecuting cannabis users and businesses in states where recreational cannabis is legal. (2015)
Voted in favor of allowing VA doctors to recommend medical cannabis for veterans in states where it is legal. (2016)

Glenn Grothman is a proponent for hemp and its ability to help agricultural areas of Wisconsin, but is against recreational marijuana.

Congressional District 7

Tom Tiffany opposed reform as a Wisconsin state elected official and continues blow smoke about cannabis reform at the federal level. He voted against the SAFE Banking Act and The MORE Act. At this point he is just another prohibitionist Republican stating marijuana legalization is a states right issue and under the 10th Amendment Wisconsin has the right to do what they want.

Does Not Support Federal Legalization
Does Not Support Expunge Past Cannabis Convictions
Does Not Support Reinvest In Communities Most Impacted By The War On Drugs
Does Support to Allow States To Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis
Does Support to Allow States To Legalize Medical Cannabis
Does Not Support to Allow VA Doctors To Recommend Medical Cannabis
Does Not Support to Allow Cannabis Businesses To Use Banks

When campaigning, Dick Ausman speaks freely about his support for reforming the marijuana laws and would champion legalization efforts if elected.

Congressional District 8

Mike Gallagher voting record speaks for it self. He has consistently voted against any federal marijuana reform efforts. He is another Republican who claims legalization should be a states right issue but has no voting record backing the claim up and has offered no legislative solutions. Many prohibitionist Republicans say marijuana reform is a states rights issue and they have the right to say no, despite what voters say.

Does Not Support Federal Legalization
Does Not Support Expunge Past Cannabis Convictions
Does Not Support Reinvest In Communities Most Impacted By The War On Drugs
Does Not Support to Allow States To Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis
Does Not Support to Allow States To Legalize Medical Cannabis
Does Not Support to Allow VA Doctors To Recommend Medical Cannabis
Does Not Support to Allow Cannabis Businesses To Use Banks

Libertarian Candidate Jake VandenPlas supports reforming the cannabis laws in the United States and his knowledge of Wisconsin would make sure our state is not left behind.

Previous campaigns have had legalizing cannabis as a platform priority for Paul Boucher.

I am 100% in support of and committed to legalizing marijuana at the federal and state level. Decriminalizing marijuana is fundamental to criminal justice reform and begin correcting wrongs stemming from the war on drugs. I also support allowing cannabis businesses to use banks, expunging past cannabis convictions, and reinvesting in communities most impacted by the war on drugs. I also want to see a tax in marijuana that could be used to reinvest in our communities. – source

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As part of the 2022 election coverage, we also take a closer look at the 2022 State Senate and State Assembly Candidates in more detail, so stay tuned, stay educated and stay active!

Lobbyist | Republicans

Rep Mary Felzkowski Medical Marijuana Info

ByJay Selthofner Posted on12/15/2019 2:26 PM12/15/2019 2:29 PM

Representative Mary Felzkowski Assistant Majority Leader Assembly District 35

This legislation is known as No Smoking – No Home Grow – Pharma Pot Products Bill will have more information come out as it is in the co-sponsorship phase. Each Republican Senator and Assembly Representative that signs on will be another vote for marijuana reform of some sort in Wisconsin. No bill is perfect and this one still faces huge opposition and two uphill battles in the committees before they can even get a public hearing.

At public hearings you can show up and testify to the merits of the legislation pending. Watch closely because these hearings are scheduled quickly and will be in Madison.

Patients who want flower products to smoke under this proposed program would not be covered and thus still illegal. Patients who want to smoke will turn to the black market or the legal market in every state around Wisconsin. Patients will grow their own marijuana in Wisconsin, they just will not be protected under this proposed program.

We all know the no smoking and no home growing bill will still put patients in jeopardy. That is why with the companion of SB 577 / LRB-3608 known as Decriminalization is just as important for our elected officials to consider. Not only at the state level, but the state under SB 577 gave municipalities another angle in local reform. As we know in the past articles, cities in Wisconsin have form of decriminalization covered in ordinances. Cities like Monona and Sturgeon Bay have even removed the penalty for possession in private homes.

SB 577 eliminates 1) the penalty for possession of marijuana if the amount of marijuana involved is no more than 28 grams; 2) the penalty for manufacturing or for possessing with the intent to manufacture, distribute, or deliver if the amount of marijuana involved is no more than 28 grams or the number of plants involved is no more than two; and 3) the penalty for distributing or delivering marijuana if the amount of marijuana involved is no more than 28 grams or the number of plants involved is no more than two.

SB 577 retains the current law penalty for distributing or delivering any amount of marijuana to a minor who is no more than 17 years of age by a person who is at least three years older than the minor. The bill limits local governments to enacting ordinances prohibiting only the possession of more than 28 grams of marijuana.

The bill also prohibits establishing probable cause that a person is violating the prohibition against possessing more than 28 grams of marijuana by an odor of marijuana or by the possession of not more than 28 grams of marijuana. Current law requires that, when determining the weight of controlled substances, the weight includes the weight of the controlled substance together with any compound, mixture, or other substance mixed or combined with the controlled substance. Under the bill, when determining the amount of tetrahydrocannabinols, only the weight of the marijuana may be considered.

Finally, the bill creates a process for expunging or dismissing convictions involving less than 28 grams of marijuana that occurred before this bill takes effect.

It would be great if we approached our county and city elected officials about duplicating this state decriminalization measure at your local level!

Don Herman (R-Oshkosh) Candidate Position on Marijuana

ByJay Selthofner Posted on08/04/2020 1:01 PM10/01/2022 11:59 PM

Assembly District 54 is in Winnebago County, consisting primarily the City of Oshkosh, Town of Algoma and Town of Oshkosh.

Back in June, Republican Don Herman from Oshkosh had an early statement about marijuana reform. Recently my hemp business Heritage Hemp Farm had a booth next to his at the Oshkosh Farmers Market and confirmed what constituents are saying about Herman, he supports reform. Here is the quote he gave me “Since I’ve never actually smoked marijuana I don’t have a lot of knowledge of it what it does to the body but I don’t see any reason why can’t be legalized as long as its controlled like alcohol with restrictions of smoking it with age and have health inspectors set up a system so it regulated so nobody sells tainted product.“

On July 13, 2020, WisconsinEye senior producer Steve Walters interviewed Don Herman (R-Oshkosh) who is running for the 54th Assembly District in the upcoming partisan primary election. During the interview he was asked about marijuana reform, he again expresses his support of the issue of ending prohibition of marijuana for responsible adults in Wisconsin. The video below is cued to start at that segment of the interview.

Learn more about the campaign of Don Herman on his campaign Facebook page.

Don Herman will face Pete Kohlhoff in the Republican Primary Election on Tuesday August 11, 2020. There was no video archived of canddiate Kohlhoff at WI EYE as of 8/4/2020 and no public stance of marijuana reform was found for Kohlhoff.

The winner of the Republican Primary will face a candidate who supports marijuana reform in Incumbent Gordon Hintz (D) on November 3rd, 2020.

Learn more about how to register to vote at https://norml.org/act/register-to-vote or MyVote.wi.gov

Learn more about requesting an absentee ballot / voting by mail at MyVote.Wi.Gov

News | Republicans

Senate Republicans elect leadership for 2021-22 session

ByJay Selthofner Posted on11/12/2020 4:46 PM11/12/2020 4:46 PM

As Senator Scott Fitzgerald now a congressman-elect he will be leaving his seat as Senate Majority Leader,. Wisconsin Senate Republicans voted Thursday to name Senator Devin LeMahieu as new Majority Leader. LeMahieu will be the new head of their caucus following an election that increased their hold on the Senate chamber by two seats.

LeMahieu was one of the 17 Senators not up for election in 2020. Of those 17 seats, 11 are held by Republicans. Senator LeMahieu was in the majority for sure, as he joined almost all seated Senators that received a failing grade during the 2019-20 session.

Northern Wisconsin NORML has had field activists and constituents attend many of Senator LeMahieu listening sessions and the best the news could get from him about the issue of marijuana reform in the past was “There is a lot of interest on both sides of the issue,” LeMahieu said. “… It is great to have these listening sessions and hear people’s opinions.”

I personally expected that Senator Roger Roth (R-Appleton) would have not only taken over the Majority Leader role, but also the role of “just say no / head in the sand” approach to marijuana reform” that Fitzgerald held tight for all these years. Only elected in 2014, LeMahieu (R-Oostburg), succeeded Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) for this prestigious position, after Fitzgerald won election to the Milwaukee-area 5th Congressional District.

Side note: Special Election coming in the Senate District 13 also as Senator Fitzgerald moves onto US Congress – can you say start educating him about the federal marijuana reform (MORE Act) now.

LeMahieu, who beat former Senate President Roger Roth, R-Appleton, for the role in a closed-caucus vote Thursday afternoon, said in a statement the Senate needs “a strong and unified team in order to accomplish what is best for Wisconsin.”

Senator Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) who was not up for election in 2020, held the Vice-Chair position on the Senate Committee that is blocking even the Republican version of a medical marijuana bill (SB 750) from a public hearing. Senator Kapenga has continuously failed his constituency on cannabis reform and earns him another session with a F rating from NORML.

Senator Chris Kepanga (R) Marijuana Position

Republicans elected Sen. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield), Senate President replacing Senator Roth as President. The Delafield lawmaker was unopposed, after Sen. Alberta Darling withdrew her name from consideration following the majority leader vote, according to her office.

The Senate Republicans went two for four on the last two caucus positions. Testin and Bernier have both showed interest in marijuana reform, while Feyen still wants to hear from law enforcement and doctors and Van Waggaard has the power to pull in medcial marijuana like he did with CBD with a simple letting down of his prohibitionist guard.

Sen. Pat Testin, R-Stevens Point, was elected president pro tempore; Sen. Dan Feyen, R-Fond du Lac, and Sen. Van Waggaard, R-Racine, won their re-elections for assistant majority leader and caucus chair, respectively; and Sen. Kathy Bernier, R-Lake Hallie, became caucus vice-chair, according to WisPolitics.com. — source

As our newly elected Wisconsin State Senators and Assembly Representatives take their oath of office and begin their legislative cycle we need to keep marijuana reform on the agenda throughout the process. The first step of a new legislative cycle is communication from you, the constituent.

LeMahieu said he was considering whether to convene a lame-duck session in November or December to take up legislation that the Assembly has passed but that the Senate didn’t get to before the coronavirus pandemic emerged this spring.

LeMahieu said he liked some of those bills but wanted to talk to his colleagues before deciding what to do.

When the senators meet — whether it’s this year or in January — they could consider lots of things, but not highly likely it will be marijuana reform.

Petition to Schedule Medical Marijuana Bills for a Public Hearing

ByJay Selthofner Posted on02/21/2020 2:33 PM02/21/2020 2:33 PM

Senate Bill 507 / Assembly Bill 570 (Medical Marijuana with home grows/smoking) and Assembly Bill 750 / Senate Bill 683 (Creation of a Medical Marijuana Program) have been assigned to the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection and Assembly Committee on State Affairs.

The bills have not been scheduled for a public hearing, which is the next step in the legislative process before the bills can be voted on.

We need your help in petitioning the committee members. Nine (9) of the twenty (20) committee members have co-sponsored one or both of these bi-partisan pieces of legislation concerning medical marijuana.

The supporting members of the committee need our help to put the pressure on their colleagues to schedule a public hearing on both or one of these pieces of legislation.

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