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Wisconsin Gov. Evers vows to legalize marijuana if reelected

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vows to legalize marijuana if reelected. His Republican opponent says, “It’s a slippery slope.”

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) is renewing his promise to push for marijuana legalization if he is reelected.

In a statement, Evers said he wants to use the taxes on marijuana sales “so we can continue to compete for talented workers to come to our state, expand access to medical treatment for thousands, and have more resources to invest in critical state priorities like K-12 education”

Under current Wisconsin law, marijuana is categorized as a schedule 1 substance that cannot be possessed or consumed. The second offense for possession of marijuana is considered a Class 1 felony with a punishment of up to three-and-a-half years of prison time in Wisconsin. If a physician recommends it, CBD is legal for limited use and only for medical treatment.

Recent polling from Marquette University Law School suggests that marijuana legalization is extremely popular in Wisconsin, with favorability amongst all registered voters.

Evers is running for reelection in November against Republican construction tycoon Tim Michels, who staunchly opposes the legalization of marijuana.

“I do not support the legalization of marijuana,” Michels said in May. “I think it’s all a slippery slope. I really do.”

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Due to the Republican control in both of Wisconsin’s state chambers, much of the policies Evers tries to pass is blocked before it gets to his desk. These blocked policies include removing an abortion law from 1849 and funding for mental health services.

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Rich Eberwein is a multimedia journalist for Heartland Signal. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois before joining Heartland Signal in 2022. In addition to politics, Rich writes about baseball and entertainment for Fansided. Read Richard’s reporting

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