Milwaukee leaders, advocates celebrate federal marijuana reform

Today, May 17, Milwaukee elected officials and advocates are holding a press conference to celebrate President Biden’s announcement reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I drug, the most dangerous classification, to a Schedule III drug under federal law.

Recreational marijuana is legal in 24 states and Washington D.C., and another 17 legalized medical marijuana. So what about Wisconsin?

A medical proposal backed by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos died in February. The measure drew opposition for being too conservative in severely limiting who could have access to medical marijuana and how it would be distributed, while others faulted it for not going far enough.

Senate Republicans objected to having state-run dispensaries, while Democrats pushed for full legalization. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has voiced support for legalizing medical marijuana as a step toward full legalization.

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The proposal would have limited the availability of marijuana to people diagnosed with certain diseases, including cancer, HIV or AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, severe muscle spasms, chronic pain or nausea, and those with a terminal illness and less than a year to live.

The nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum said, while advisory referendums on legal marijuana have passed by wide margins in the state, many lawmakers remain skeptical.

Despite marijuana’s current legal status in the state, there are events happening across the Milwaukee area on Saturday to celebrate 4/20. 

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