Milwaukee, WI: Mayor Tom Barrett has signed municipal legislation into law reducing minor marijuana possession offenses to no more than a $50 fine.
Members of the City Council recently voted 10 to 3 to amend the city’s decriminalization ordinance, which has been in effect since the late 1990s. That ordinance classified minor marijuana possession offenses as violations punishable by a fine ranging from $250 to $500.
Under the new ordinance, offenses involving the possession of up to 25 grams of marijuana are punishable by a maximum fine of $50.00.
Milwaukee’s marijuana possession penalties are significantly more lenient than those imposed by state law, which classifies the possession of any amount of cannabis as a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to six-months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500 or Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org.
January 16, 2020 Contact: Rep. Spreitzer, 608-237-9145; Sen. Ringhand, 608-266-2253
Rep. Spreitzer and Sen. Ringhand Announce Brodhead Listening Session
MADISON – Today, Rep. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) and Sen. Janis Ringhand (D-Evansville) announced a listening session in Brodhead next month.
“We welcome the residents of our districts to attend this listening session and share their ideas about pending legislation and how to better our state,” said Rep. Spreitzer.
“We are looking forward to hearing from our constituents about how to best meet their needs and address the issues facing Wisconsin,” said Sen. Ringhand.
The details for the event are below:
Brodhead Area Listening Session at Tuesday, February 4 th 5:30-6:30 PM
Brodhead Memorial Public Library, Program Room, 1207 25th St, Brodhead, WI 53520
# # #
Editors Note: Rep. Spreitzer co-sponsored Adult Use, Grow Your Own/Smoking Medical Marijuana and Decriminalization. Senator Ringhand has co-sponsored the Grow Your Own/Smoking Medical Marijuana Bipartisan bill.
All marijuana reform is stuck in committee at the moment. Neither of these elected officials are on the committee(s) in question, but you can still help by signing the petition to the committee that is holding up the whole state:
The Republican Medical Marijuana legislation authored by Representatives Mary Felzkowski, Pat Snyder, Michael Schraa, Shae Sortwell and Senator Kathy Bernier has received Assembly Bill 750 and Senate Bill 683 and committee assignments for the 2020 legislative session. This bill would create a medical marijuana program to allow qualifying patients to access medical marijuana in Wisconsin!
Additional co-sponsors have been added since the bills introduction and are listed below. Not many surprises come from the Republican party about marijuana reform, but the lack of an additional Republican Senator co-sponsor is disheartening to the sick, dying and disabled of the 18 Senate Districts they represent.
Of course we are all aware that bills to legalize adult marijuana use and a bipartisan version of medical marijuana are out there, but no additional Democrat Assembly Representatives have signed onto this version. The lone name standing out was Democratic Senator Wirch.
When we dig deeper, the Bi-partisan medical marijuana bill went to a committee that was not the worst in the world, but the Chairs (Senator Stroebel and Rep. Swearingen) of those committees have been a vocal about marijuana reform. The new Republican version was sent to the same committee as the bipartisan medical marijuana bill. This new bill did draw out a few Republican names that had not signed onto marijuana reform prior to this and some of them are on these committees, including lone Democrat Senator Wirch. Senator Wirch was singled out back in October 2019 as not being a co-sponsor of the bi-partisan medical marijuana effort.
Please take a moment and send a message to your elected officials:
It is not often a Wisconsin Gubernatorial Candidate visits Green Lake and Waushara County, but to discuss marijuana reform specifically, well that is highly unusual. What is Jim Langer smoking that would make him think this trip worth his while? The answer is nothing! It was the campaign of an energetic young Independent Candidate for State Assembly, Jay Selthofner.
Langer had first met the “cannabis candidate Selthofner ” at the Princeton flea market as the two finished up collecting nominations papers for their respective offices. Once Selthofner found himself in front of Langer, the pot-litics started. The conversation in the summer heat turned from a quick overview of industrial hemp with explanations of the difference between the hemp and marijuana plants. “Medical marijuana just makes sense and cents” stated Selthofner as he brought Langer up to speed on the past legislation session and ultimately failure of Wisconsin law makers to address either issue. Selthofner closed the initial meeting with Langer with a strong emphasis that prohibition of marijuana is not working and Wisconsin should legalize marijuana for all reasons with a comprehensive marijuana bill.
Selthofner knows information on all forms and uses of marijuana is now mainstream and laws are changing from coast to coast. To insure Wisconsin benefits from these changes, Selthofner and Langer are continuing the dialog and awareness. Selthofner’s persistence recently paid off with a visit from the Wisconsin Gubernatorial Candidate. While campaigning in Northern and Central Wisconsin, Langer thought it important and made it a priority to continue the discussion of marijuana reform and creative economy solutions with Selthofner.
The two discussed in detail not only marijuana prohibition, but also the rich history hemp cannabis has played with our country. The local twist is that the Brandon and Fairwater area, in Selthofner’s district, has an abandoned hemp mill and stints of feral hemp along the roadside. The candidate added “The hemp plant, as a crop, should be in the farmers arsenal and tool box, just like marijuana should in the doctors.” Selthofner provided a variety of resources on medical marijuana and stories of Jay’s late cousin Rick Andersen and his unconventional relationship with Mieko Hester Perez. In closing, Jay shared how he leaped to new heights and thought processes with the help of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) and Mr. James Gierach. The message Selthofner hopes Langer took away is that “Prohibition has a correlation to many of our problems today. A very humane and relatively simple way to help stop the drug war gravy train is to let Wisconsin farmers grow hemp, protect medical marijuana patients by removing them off the battlefield and end prohibition of marijuana to protect and secure our borders and forests.” Selthofner closed by saying “marijuana, as an alternative to prescription drugs, nicotine and alcohol is by far safer. I understand drug abuse of any kind is bad, but the drug war is worse.”
Jim Langer may not be ready to wear the green leaf on his sleeve as Selthofner is, but after speaking with Selthofner and reviewing the information available, Langer may be more educated on the matter than Tom Barrett, Scott Walker, Mark Neumann, Tim John, Scott Paterick, James James, the other candidates in his race. With the information so readily available, public opinion high for reform and no tax dollars available to spend on anything, now more than ever Selthofner thinks we should tax this plant.
To learn more about Jay and his campaign, you may visit his website at www.JaySelthofner.com
To learn more about Jim Langer, the following links have been provided:
Official Website of Jim Langer for Wisconsin Governor 2010
Eric J. Beach, a Fox Valley businessman, has announced his candidacy for 57th Assembly District.
Beach served for 20+ years in the US military, 15 of those with Appleton’s own 2-127th Infantry, deploying twice to Iraq during that time. As such he brings a strong appreciation for service to the community and an intimate understanding of how to prepare for and defend individual and collective community rights.
Our chapter was first introduced to Eric Beach when he spoke to our chapter about his campaign at a meeting in the Appleton Public Library early this spring. If you do not know his stance on marijuana reform, we got your answer. We have had some great conversations with him and he completed our 2020 Candidate Questionnaire, here are the candidates view 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.
If a licensed medical professional and their patient thinks the prescription of marijuana is a viable treatment option, then it should be considered. I don’t want to, nor am I qualified to debate the semantics of the pros and cons of use. Healthcare if definitely a practice, patients and providers seek the best care options. Benefit and risk of each care option should be carefully evaluated and considered. I don’t condone or condemn the use prescription or non-prescription drugs as medical treatments; however, marijuana does seem in my view a much more natural option than some of the drugs big-pharma produces. As a Veteran, and knowing that many Veterans struggle with PTSD (Post traumatic Stress Disorder). I am fully supportive of any care that helps our veterans manage stress, reintegrate and remain productive members of our communities.
Do you support or oppose decriminalizing the simple possession of marijuana?
Support
Please provide a position statement regarding decriminalizing the simple possession of marijuana.
I support decriminalization, legalization, and a well-regulated marketization of marijuana. Criminalization of marijuana has long lasting effects on individuals. A single infringement by anyone will get possession of a controlled substance on their record. This in many instances prohibits them from many employment, housing and other opportunities for the rest of their life. Criminalization of minor marijuana use/possession has long lasting personal and social impact. Marijuana charges account for 61% of our states drug arrests. It would be nice if law enforcement could put their efforts into more dangerous offences and substances.
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.
If the conviction is non-violent, no intent to distribute, and in small quantity. Yes, the effect of the criminal record to the individual’s ability to achieve or seek opportunity in the future are so greatly impacted that the individuals may become socially/economically ‘cornered’. Meaning that a person with no or little options may have to make rash decisions. I’m not advocating that criminal history is ignored, but in this instance, I think there is more harm than good. However, if it becomes legalized expungement is almost a moot point.
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 legalization and well-regulated adult use, for several reasons. The first reason is personal liberty, adults in my opinion should be able to choose how to live their life. We are faced with personal choice at all times, people still work and contribute positively even though alcohol and entertainment are personal options. Another reason is marketization and regulation, marijuana use is already in our culture. With marketization and regulation safeguards are set in place and it brings it off the black market and into a revenue generating market. Another is criminalization, we can’t continue to label and mark individuals for every minor offense God should judge us.
Core Belief: Marijuana is proven less harmful than alcohol and if we legalize it, we can regulate it and tax it. This would provide alternative pain relief options, keep more people out of our overcrowded prisons and be an economic boon for Wisconsin’s economy.
I support medical and recreational marijuana legalization in the state of Wisconsin and support removing marijuana from the federal list of controlled substances. Wisconsin has some of the harshest penalties related to marijuana possession, sale and cultivation. Wisconsin prisons have bloated to over 23,000 incarcerated leading to dangerous, overcrowded conditions. We can drastically cut down on the prison population by doing away with incarceration of non-violent, low-level drug offenders.
Additionally, with the opioid crisis impacting communities throughout Wisconsin, we need to consider legalization as part of a viable solution. In studies published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers found that states that allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes had 2.21 million fewer daily doses of opioids prescribed per year under Medicare Part D, compared with those states without medical cannabis laws. Opioid prescriptions under Medicaid also dropped by 5.88% in states with medical cannabis laws compared with states without such laws, according to the studies.
Where: Iowa County Wisconsin Courthouse, 222 W Chapel St, Dodgeville, WI 53533
On Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, Dana Beal of Cures Not Wars is facing sentencing for serious cannabis charges at the Iowa County Courthouse in Dodgeville WI at 1pm. Dana is a longtime activist who hails from New York City but has long ties to Wisconsin.
Please join Dana’s friends and supporters 1pm Tuesday at the courthouse in Dodgeville, which is about 45 miles from downtown Madison. All supporters are welcome but medical cannabis patients and supporters are particularly urged to attend to draw attention to Dana’s longstanding activist efforts in support of legalizing this medicine.
The evening before, Dana’s friends will be sharing information on two of Dana’s major lifetime causes, medical cannabis and ibogaine as a treatment for addiction at the Madison NORML Drug Conference.
With millions of Americans already legally using medical cannabis in the now 16 states and Washington DC where it is legal, it is a topic of great interest in Wisconsin. Rising rates of heroin and opiate addiction have pushed treatment options to the brink. Ibogaine offers a natural means to help cure addictions.
This spring and summer have led up to a big month for cannabis legalization advisory referendums here in July. There are County Board hearings about adding a cannabis legalization advisory referendum to the November ballot in multiple counties and more and more county board supervisors are talking about the issue. Main stream media outlets have reported on many of these actions by the county. If you live in one of these counties, please attend (and bring a friend) the hearing so you can speak in support. There are opposition to these referendums in these counties, so we need to show strong support for them and tell the board about the importance of cannabis legalization, but more importantly also express support for the referendum process in general. The meetings are not about the specifics of cannabis legalization, but rather the importance of using the referendum process. If you cannot attend a meeting, please call or email your county supervisor. If your county is not listed, please look up who your county board supervisors are and contact them today to start the cannabis conversation.
St. Croix County
Monday July 9th @ 5:00pm
County Board Room
1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson
Brown County
Executive Committee
Monday July 9th @ 5:30pm
Room 200
305 E Walnut St, Green Bay
Sauk County
Tuesday July 17th @ 6:00pm
Room 326 West Square Building
505 Brwoadway, Baraboo
Langlade County
Tuesday July 17th @ 9am
County Board Room, Public Safety Building
840 Clermont St, Antigo
The Langlade County board’s Executive Committee passed a cannabis referendum resolution July 10. The item now moves to the full board on July 17, which meets at 9am in the County Board Room in the lower level of the Safety Building at 840 Clermont Street in Antigo. Supporters are needed to speak in favor or register their support.
Dane County
Thursday July 12th @ 7:00pm
Room 201, City-County Buidling, 210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Madison, WI
Walworth County
Monday July 16th @ 10:00am
Walworth County Government Center
100 W Walworth St, Elkhorn
Winnebago County
Tuesday July 17 @ 6:00pm Supervisors’ Room, Fourth Floor, Winnebago County Courthouse
415 Jackson Street, Oshkosh
Rock and Milwaukee County have already voted and passed resolutions to place a referendum question on the November 2018 ballot.
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.