Wisconsin Republicans Cut Governor’s Marijuana Legalization Proposal from Budget
A proposal to legalize marijuana in Wisconsin has been cut from the state budget by a Republican-led committee. The move comes despite the proposal’s popularity among voters, with over 60% of Wisconsinites supporting legalization, according to a recent poll.
Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, had included the legalization proposal in his biennial budget request, which would have regulated marijuana similarly to alcohol. The proposal would have also imposed a 15% wholesale excise tax and a 10% retail excise tax on recreational cannabis products, generating an estimated $58.1 million in revenue in fiscal year 2026-27.
The proposal would have also allowed for the cultivation of up to six cannabis plants for personal use, and would have protected individuals from being denied organ transplants or employment due to cannabis consumption. Additionally, it would have created a process for individuals serving sentences or previously convicted of marijuana-related crimes to have their sentences reduced or repealed.
The Joint Finance Committee, which is comprised of Republican lawmakers, removed the proposal from the budget during a hearing on Thursday. The move is a repeat of two years ago, when the same committee removed proposals to legalize marijuana for recreational and medical use from Evers’ budget.
Evers criticized the decision, saying on social media that “today, Republican lawmakers are gutting my budget that does what’s best for our kids and the folks, families, and communities that raise them.”
Despite the setback, some Republicans have acknowledged that the debate over marijuana legalization is not going away. Assembly Majority Leader Rep. Tyler August (R) has said that he hopes to find a solution to the issue this session, while Sen. Dan Feyen (R) has acknowledged that the margins are tighter.
The move to cut the proposal from the budget comes as Wisconsin is facing a budget surplus, and some lawmakers have argued that the state should prioritize other issues. However, advocates for marijuana legalization argue that the proposal would have generated significant revenue and created jobs in the agricultural sector.
The debate over marijuana legalization is likely to continue in Wisconsin, with some lawmakers expressing hope that a compromise can be reached. However, the decision by the Joint Finance Committee to cut the proposal from the budget is a setback for advocates of legalization.
