Evers proposes legalizing, taxing marijuana
By Patrick Lynn
Gov. Tony Evers has proposed legalizing recreational marijuana use in Wisconsin.
In his 2021-23 budget, which was released on Feb. 7, Evers calls for taxing and regulating marijuana the same way Wisconsin does for alcohol. Under his proposal, Wisconsin would become the 16th state—including Illinois and Michigan—to legalize the drug.
“Legalizing and taxing marijuana in Wisconsin—just like we do already with alcohol—ensures a controlled market and safe product are available for both recreational and medicinal users and can open the door for countless opportunities for us to reinvest in our communities and create a more equitable state,” Evers said.
In 2019, Marquette University Law poll found that 59 percent of Wisconsinites supported the legalization of recreational marijuana while 36 percent said it should not be legal.
According to the poll, 83 percent of Wisconsinites surveyed said the use of marijuana for medical purposes with a doctor’s prescription should be legal, while 12 percent said it should not be.
Under the proposal, the Department of Revenue and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection would regulate and tax marijuana. The proposal would require the sale of marijuana for recreational use to be sold by a marijuana retailer holding a permit issued by the DOR.
A person would need to be 21 years of age to purchase marijuana for recreational use. All sales of recreational marijuana to minors would be prohibited.
The plan also allows for medical marijuana users to purchase the product without paying retail taxes.
Under the proposal, Wisconsin residents can possess up to two ounces of marijuana and six plants for personal use.
The proposal could generate more than $165 million annually beginning in 2023. Evers said the revenue can be reinvested back into communities, and split between the state departments of health services, children and families, administration, and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. He also suggests $34 million could be given to rural school districts.
