Dennis Walton (I) to challenge Kalan Haywood (D) for AD 16

Wisconsin State Assembly District 16 (MAP) is in Milwaukee County, including the City of Milwaukee.

On September 23, 2020, the NAACP Milwaukee Branch and Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network co-hosted a forum with candidates running in the 6th Senate District and 16th Assembly District.

Candidates included:

Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D)
Alcrio Deacon (R)
Rep. Kalan Haywood (D)
Dennis Walton (I)

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Independent Candidate Dennis Walton spoke about marijuana reform in the in the Wisconsin Eye candidate’s form. His response was if you honestly show how the promotion and legalization of recreational marijuana make our communities better place then I will support anything that makes our communities a better safer place but personally feel as though on that issue we should proceed with caution.

He added “I believe in the medical aspects of marijuana, I believe in the decriminalization of marijuana, but I don’t believe that we should be actively promoting the recreational use of marijuana.“

On September 9, 2020, WisconsinEye senior producer Steve Walters interviewed Dennis Walton (I-Milwaukee) who is running for the 16th Assembly District in the upcoming general election. At the 11:49 mark, Dennis Walton talks about marijuana reform, listen below.

Learn more about the campaign of Dennis Walton on his website.

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This first year assembly representative from Milwaukee did not sponsor any legislation on marijuana reform in 2019-2020. NORML gave him a C grade for his candidate statements addressing marijuana reform, his continued public support in the news, but a Board Member for SE WI NORML indicated she was not happy with his communication on the issue.

We do congratulation him on becoming the youngest person ever elected to state office. At 19 years old, we have high hopes for his future as a marijuana reformer and would like to see him co-sponsor legislation on the issue.

Position on Marijuana Legalization: August 2018 : We can’t forget to address our broken criminal justice system. We have too many people trapped in a cycle of crime, incarceration, and recidivism. We need to legalize marijuana, expunge criminal records and end the failed truth-in-sentencing law, which prevents parole.

Position on Marijuana Decriminalization: “The conversation around marijuana has to involve decriminalizing marijuana as well.”

Position on Medical Marijuana: “Especially medical marijuana. I have an uncle who is suffering from cancer…that could help ease some of his pain.”

“The other states around us have legalized marijuana use, and now we’re on an island.”