Wisconsin: 47 Lawmakers File Bill to Legalize Marijuana, Create Regulated Market and Expunge Past Convictions
- A bipartisan coalition of 47 Wisconsin lawmakers introduced legislation to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older, establish a regulated market, and allow expungement of past convictions.
- The bill permits possession limits including up to 2.5 ounces in public, five pounds at home, and includes a medical marijuana registry for qualifying patients with serious illnesses.
- It creates a Division of Cannabis Regulation to oversee licensing and taxation, with multiple excise taxes funding a Cannabis Research Fund, while outlining packaging, labeling, and sales restrictions.
- The legislation establishes a Cannabis Conviction Review Unit to help individuals expunge or adjust prior marijuana offenses, and gives local governments authority to restrict marijuana businesses.
A coalition of 47 Wisconsin lawmakers filed legislation today to legalize marijuana for everyone 21 and older, establish a regulated cannabis market and allow for the expungement of past marijuana convictions. The proposal would allow those 21+ to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana flower in public, up to five pounds in a private residence, up to 15 grams of concentrate, and up to one gram of THC in a marijuana-infused product. It would also create a medical marijuana registry program for patients diagnosed with qualifying conditions, including cancer, PTSD, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, ALS and other debilitating illnesses.
The bill establishes a Division of Cannabis Regulation within the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to oversee licensing for producers, processors, testing laboratories and microbusinesses. Retail sales and certain licensing functions would also involve the Department of Revenue. Annual license fees would be set at $3,000, in addition to a $250 application fee and background investigation costs.
Under the measure, marijuana would be subject to multiple layers of taxation, including a 10% excise tax at the wholesale level, a 5% retail excise tax, and an additional 3% tax on marijuana flower dedicated to a newly created Cannabis Research Fund within the Department of Health Services.
The legislation also creates a Cannabis Conviction Review Unit within the Department of Administration to identify individuals eligible for expungement or sentence adjustments for prior marijuana-related offenses. Individuals currently serving sentences, on probation, or who have completed their sentences could petition courts to vacate or modify qualifying convictions.
In addition, the proposal sets packaging, labeling and testing standards, restricts sales to those 21 and older, and allows local governments to prohibit marijuana dispensaries, microbusinesses or lounges within their jurisdictions.
Senate Bill 1045 was filed by 14 senators and 33 representatives, led by Senators LaTonya Johnson (D). All 47 sponsors are Democrat.
If approved, the bill would make Wisconsin the 25th state to legalize recreational cannabis.