Wisconsin Bill Would Decriminalize Up to an Ounce of Cannabis
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]W[/dropcap]isconsin State Rep. Shelia Stubbs and Rep. David Crowley introduced a bill on Oct. 30 that would decriminalize up to 28 grams, or nearly an ounce of cannabis in the state. Like many other decriminalization efforts in other states, this bill would also include social equity provisions to undo some of the harms caused by the “War on Drugs.”
“The weaponization of drug possession laws, particularly marijuana, has been the driver of the state of ramped mass incarceration in which we find ourselves,” Crowley stated in a press release. “This bill should have been passed years ago—Wisconsin is now an island of antiquated drug policy in a sea of decriminalization.”
This morning I introduced legislation w/ @RepStubbs to decriminalize possession of small amounts (28g or less) of marijuana. For too long WI criminal justice system has been anything but just & the weaponization of drug possession laws has been a main driver of this unjust system
— David C. Crowley (@DavidCrowleyWI) October 30, 2019
Currently, possession of cannabis is considered a misdemeanor and the punishment can lead to a misdemeanor with a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Rep. Stubbs shared Crowley’s enthusiasm about righting some of the wrongs under the current system. “It will also decrease racial disparities, it will decrease inequities in our criminal justice system, and it will decrease the barriers of employment,” Stubbs said at a press conference.
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes was also supportive of the bill, saying that possession of cannabis is not a valid reason to be sent to prison or lose a job. It’s also highly likely that Gov. Tony Evers will be supportive of the bill as well, given that he has supported cannabis decriminalization as recently as February.
At the local level, several jurisdictions located in Wisconsin have already taken the initiative and voted in favor of non-binding resolutions supporting either medical or recreational cannabis. Only the cities of Milwaukee and Madison have decriminalized small amounts of cannabis so far. Sixteen counties in the state have also approved cannabis ballot measures.
