Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has expressed his intention to legalize marijuana in the state if Democrats gain control of the legislature. Evers made the statement at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s 2025 convention, where he emphasized the need for Democrats to take action and overcome the current conservative legislature’s roadblocks.
Evers pointed out that Wisconsin residents currently have to travel to neighboring Illinois to purchase legal marijuana, resulting in revenue being sent to another state. He believes that legalizing marijuana in Wisconsin would not only benefit the state’s residents but also generate revenue for the state.
The governor’s plan includes imposing a 15% wholesale excise tax and a 10% retail excise tax on recreational cannabis products. The revenue generated from these taxes would be deposited into the state’s general fund.
Evers’ comments come after Republicans in the state legislature recently cut key provisions from a state budget proposal that included plans to legalize and regulate marijuana. This is not the first time that Republicans have blocked marijuana legalization efforts in Wisconsin, as they also removed similar proposals from the governor’s biennial executive budget two years ago.
Despite the setbacks, Evers remains optimistic that Democrats can make progress on marijuana legalization if they gain control of the legislature. He has previously stated that he is “hopeful” that the November 2024 election will lead to Democratic control of the legislature, which would position the state to finally legalize cannabis.
A recent survey found that nearly two-thirds of rural Wisconsinites support legalizing cannabis, suggesting that there is significant public support for the issue. The state’s Department of Revenue has also estimated that Wisconsin residents spent over $121 million on cannabis in Illinois alone in 2022, contributing $36 million in tax revenue to the neighboring state.
Evers has emphasized the need for Democrats to take action and overcome the current conservative legislature’s roadblocks. He believes that legalizing marijuana in Wisconsin would not only benefit the state’s residents but also generate revenue for the state.
