Announcements

Of course we did much more throughout the year then just these few blog entries represent. Behind the scenes website maintenance, phone calls, meetings, training sessions, zoom conferences and an election year makes the research task on candidates a huge one.

This past year, with a record number of candidates and a global pandemic, chapter board members, regional leaders, field activists and supporters of the chapter did their share plus more….. here are a few highlights for you to review.

January 2020: Republican bills sponsors clarify their stance on smoking cannabis and the bill designed to get a public hearing. Activists question Democratic Assembly Reps Doyle and McGuire on their lack of support.

February 2020: Our chapters work with Rep. Shae Sortwell (R ) leads to introduction of bipartisan legislation to decriminalize cannabis in Wisconsin! Our chapter also represented Wisconsin at the Cannabis Expo by tabling and providing a featured presenter. We closed the month out with an outreach public meeting in Appleton.

March 2020: Released of our 2020 Candidate Scorecard. This extensive database assigns a letter grade ‘A’ through ‘F’ to states’ to elected officials based upon their comments, author/co-authored/sponsored/co-sponsored legislation, voting records, interaction with NORML supporters in 2019 and the past that are specific to matters of marijuana policy.

April 2020: Participated in WisCannabis: A Virtual Town Hall. Created a petition and released a memo​ and for use with state lawmakers, cannabis regulators, prosecutors, and other interested parties to provide an easy and simple list of recommendations of how to quickly evolve marijuana policies around the country in the ongoing effort to mitigate the spread and destruction of COVID-19.

May 2020: Created and released video presentation of the executive summary of our elected officials views on cannabis reform.

June 2020: We had members complete a course and earn a Cannabis Advocacy Certificate. La Crosse reforms marijuana laws.

July 2020: Interviewed with Cannabis Policy NOW podcast. Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher sends mixed messages to constituents, but seems to tell Wisconsin Republicans not to use “the worried about the feds” excuse.

August 2020: Created and publicized candidate stances for the primary elections.

September 2020: We celebrated 10 years as an affiliated chapter and the longest running NORML chapter in Wisconsin. Rock County slashes marijuana fines to $1

October 2020: City of Appleton lowers marijuana fines. Chapter holds annual event at From The Land Festival. Governor Evers declares Wisconsin Hemp Day October 18th. Created content for the Smoke the Vote Project.

November 2020: Wood County workgroup formed. Interview on main stream media about The MORE Act.

December 2020: Created “Occupations and Stance on Cannabis” for our newly elected officials. Took note that it has been 11 years since Wisconsin held a public hearing on medical marijuana.