Wisconsin Gov. Evers to consider medical marijuana legalization proposal by Republicans

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• Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, an advocate for full recreational marijuana legalization, said he is open to a more limited medical marijuana legalization proposed by Republicans.
• Republicans, who have been working on a medical marijuana bill behind closed doors for years, plan to unveil it this month.
• The push for marijuana legalization in Wisconsin has gained momentum, influenced by the changing laws in neighboring states.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, who has pushed for full legalization of recreational marijuana, said Wednesday that he is open to a more limited medical marijuana legalization being promoted by Republicans.

"I would think that getting it all done in one fell swoop would be more thoughtful as far as meeting the needs of Wisconsinites that have asked for it," Evers said in an interview with The Associated Press. "But if that’s what we can accomplish right now, I’ll be supportive of that."

Republicans have been working behind closed doors for years on a medical marijuana bill and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in December that they would unveil it this month. Republicans have repeatedly rejected calls from Evers and other Democrats to legalize all uses of marijuana, including medical and recreational.

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Vos said the proposal would be limited and modeled after the medical marijuana law that had been in place in neighboring Minnesota before it moved to full legalization.

Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who has pushed for full legalization of recreational marijuana, says he supports a more limited medical marijuana legalization being promoted by Republicans in an interview on Jan. 3, 2024, in his Capitol office in Madison, Wisconsin.  (AP Photo/Todd Richmond)

Evers said he was open to a limited medical marijuana program but that he had not yet seen the Republican proposal.

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Wisconsin remains an outlier nationally. Thirty-eight states have legalized medical marijuana and 24 have legalized recreational marijuana. The push for legalization in Wisconsin has gained momentum, as its neighbors have loosened laws.

Marquette University Law School polls have shown large majority support among Wisconsin residents for legalizing marijuana use for years.