Wisconsin
Wisconsin Lawmakers Introduce Marijuana Legalization Bill
A pair of Democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin last week introduced legislation to legalize recreational marijuana for adults and establish a framework for regulated cannabis sales. If passed, Wisconsin would join the nearly two dozen states that have ended the criminal prohibition of marijuana.
The bill was unveiled in a Wisconsin hemp farm on Friday by Sen. Melissa Agard, the state Senate Democratic Leader, and Rep. Darrin B. Madison. If successful, the measure would legalize cannabis use and the possession of up to five ounces of marijuana by adults aged 21 and older.
A pair of Wisconsin lawmakers has introduced a bill to legalize marijuana for adults.
“I’ve said this time and time again – we know that the most dangerous thing about cannabis in Wisconsin is that it remains illegal,” Agard said in a joint statement from the lawmakers. “For the past decade, I have worked to undo Wisconsin’s antiquated and deeply unjust marijuana policies and put our state on a prosperous path forward.”
The bill would also remove criminal penalties for possession of marijuana by individuals under age 21, who would instead be subject to a fine for such offenses. Additionally, adults charged with possession of more than five ounces of cannabis would no longer face felony charges.
Lawmakers Cite The Racial Inequities Of Marijuana Prohibition
Noting that an ACLU report found that Black people in Wisconsin were more than four times as likely to be charged with a marijuana offense in 2018, Madison said the cannabis legalization bill “lays a solid foundation for those that have been harshly convicted for non-violent possession charges and the ramifications of those convictions.”
“Legalizing cannabis is a matter of public safety and racial justice here in Wisconsin. People in Wisconsin indulge in cannabis use, and deserve the ability to buy safe cannabis and use it responsibly without being criminalized,” said Madison.
The legislation also allows for the regulated production, distribution and sale of marijuana and cannabis products. Cannabis consumption lounges would also be allowed, subject to local control. Marijuana producers would be subject to a 15% excise tax levied at the wholesale level, while retailers and lounges would pay a 10% tax on cannabis sales. Sales of medical marijuana would not be taxed, and 60% of tax revenue generated by cannabis taxes would be used to fund community reinvestment grants.
The measure also includes provisions to provide relief to those previously convicted of marijuana offenses that are legalized by the bill and requires the state director of courts to review the records of acts that would be legalized by the measure. For those convicted of misdemeanors, courts would be required to dismiss the conviction and expunge the criminal record or redesignate the offense to a lesser crime. For felonies, courts would be required to determine if it is in the public interest to dismiss the conviction and expunge the record or redesignate the conviction to a lesser offense.
“This proposal will not only allow Wisconsin to right past wrongs, it will bring us in line with our neighbors and create countless opportunities to grow our economy and attract people to our state,” Agard added. “Right now, we are seeing our hard-earned money go across the border to Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota to the tune of tens of millions of dollars each year. That is money we could be reinvesting to help support our friends and neighbors and make our state a place where people want to live, work, and play.”
If the bill is passed, Wisconsin will join the 23 states that legalized marijuana for adults. The Badger State could, however, be beaten to the punch by Ohio, where voters will decide on a cannabis legalization initiative in November.
“Wisconsin is ready to legalize it – 69% of Wisconsinites, including a majority of Republicans, support the full legalization of marijuana,” said Agard. “It is way past time that our state honors the will of the majority and seizes the many positive economic and social benefits that cannabis legalization has to offer. Let’s join folks in over half the nation who have said ‘yes’ to putting the half-baked politics of prohibition behind us and set our expectations higher.”
Before the legislation can become law, the bill must be approved by Wisconsin’s Republican-majority legislature, which so far has been unwelcome to cannabis reform, even refusing to legalize medical marijuana. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers included marijuana legalization provisions in his proposed state budget this year, but they were removed from the bill by the legislature.
A warrant was issued for the arrest of James R. Lane, who was a youth pastor at Faith Reformed Church in Wisconsin Rapids from 2000-2004.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS − A 52-year-old Colorado man who worked as a youth minister at a Wisconsin Rapids church from 2000 until 2004 is accused of sexually assaulting a member of his youth group.
James R. Lane, of Centennial, Colorado, faces a charge of repeated sexual assault of a child. Wood County Circuit Judge Greg Potter issued a warrant for Lane’s arrest on June 19.
According to the criminal complaint, in March, a 36-year-old woman told a Wisconsin special agent that Lane was the youth pastor at Faith Reformed Church in Wisconsin Rapids. She said when she as 14- or 15-years-old Lane gave her a ride home after she babysat for his children. They were on a back road of Wisconsin 13 when he began kissing her. The woman said Lane stuck his hands inside of her pants and touched her inappropriately, according to the complaint.
The woman said on several occasions, Lane would “lay her down” on the floor of his office or other areas of the church and would get on top of her and kiss and touch her inappropriately. She said it happened about eight to 10 times while she was 14 or 15, according to the complaint.
Two special agents talked to Lane on May 13. Lane said he had a “relationship” with a girl in the youth group that got “inappropriate.” He confirmed the girl’s identity and said he had inappropriately touched the girl, according to the complaint. He said there were three to six times when they went on drives in his car and did what he described as “heavy petting.”
Lane said he and his family moved to Colorado in 2004.
If convicted, Lane faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
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Contact Karen Madden at 715-345-2245 or kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33.
The Ohio Bobcats have officially announced the signing of defensive back Michael Mack. The 6’1″ Maryland native will be making his third college stop, this time in the Mid-American Conference. Mack previously was a member of the Wisconsin Badgers and the Air Force Falcons.
He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Welcome to Ohio, Michael! 🧱#OUohyeah | @amgmike_ pic.twitter.com/fk8mJRsQUb
— Ohio Football (@OhioFootball) May 25, 2024
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Mack spent 2020-2022 at Air Force, where he appeared in 21 games with 69 tackles and an interception, plus four defended passes and a fumble recovery.
He then transferred to Wisconsin, where he needed a waiver to be eligible for the 2023 season. This is due to a service academy rule that players must transfer within their first two years in order to be immediately eligible. That waiver was denied, leading to Mack not appearing for the the Badgers. Mack entered the portal in late April, 2024.
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Mack joins an Ohio group that was the top scoring defense in the Mid-American conference last season, allowing 15.8 points per game, as the Bobcats secured their second consecutive ten-win season under Tim Alpin.
Ohio will open the 2024 season on August 31 at Syracuse on the ACC Network.
Following the presidential debate Thursday June 27th both parties reacted as the evening came to a close.
Wisconsin GOP Chairman Brian Schimming released the following statement:
“Tonight was not about Joe Biden’s ability to get through an hour and a half debate. It was about whether he can make it through another four years as Commander in Chief,” said Wisconsin GOP Chairman Brian Schimming. “Biden demonstrated he is incapable of either. This debate was a decisive win for President Trump and served as a reminder to Wisconsinites that a more prosperous and secure country starts with retiring Joe Biden in November.”
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler released the following statement:
“This election is a choice between President Biden, who has a vision for our country in which our freedoms are protected, our economy works for everyone, and our democracy is strong, and Donald Trump, who is campaigning on an agenda of revenge and retribution and who plans to double down on his record of ripping away freedoms and selling out working families to the ultra-wealthy and big corporations,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler. “There’s no question that Donald Trump is the wrong choice for Wisconsin and the wrong choice for our country. That was true before the debate began, and nothing about Donald Trump’s avalanche of lies tonight changed this one iota.”
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