More Wisconsin counties looking at advisory referendums on pot legalization

Posted: June 17, 2018 by Gary Storck
Category: Elections

UPDATED: 06/18/2018 4:31:25 PM An advisory referendum on legalizing cannabis has already been approved by the Milwaukee County Board and in Dane County, a resolution that would do the same has been introduced with 19 cosponsors and is likely to pass. The next stop for the Dane resolution is the County's Board's Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, June 21 at 5:00pm in City-County Building Room 321.

In Winnebago County, District 16 Supervisor Aaron Wojciechowski introduced an advisory referendum resolution along with five other supervisors; Mike Norton, District 20; Andy Buck, District 24; Tom Snider, District 35; Steve Lenz, District 7; and Julie Gordon, District 17.

The proposal will be rolled out at the upcoming board meeting at 6:00pm on Tuesday, June 19 at the Winnebago County Courthouse at 415 Jackson St, Oshkosh, WI 54901. Public comments take place in the beginning of the meeting.

The proposed Winnebago question reads:

"Should the Wisconsin State Legislature enact proposed legislation that allows individuals 21 years of age and older to engage in the medical and recreational use of marijuana, while also regulating commercial marijuana-related activities including, but not limited to, imposing a tax on the sale of marijuana, and expunging marijuana-related crimes for those convicted in Wisconsin?"

Rock County Supervisor Yuri Rashkin will present his advisory referendum to the board chair as a "proposal for resolution" on Thursday, June 14th. The referendum will need to be approved by the Rock County Boards and its committees by August 28th to make the November ballot.

Rashkin says putting "should cannabis be legalized and taxed like alcohol to go towards health-care infrastructure and education" on the ballot in November would have no additional cost because it would just be a "yes" or "no" answer.

Here's the proposed Rock County question:

An advisory referendum on legalizing marijuana is being considered by the La Crosse County executive committee. At the board's June 13 Executive Committee meeting, County Board Chair Tara Johnson created a subcommittee to explore all potential referendums for the Nov. 6 ballot. The board has until the end of July to approve the question in time for the November 6 ballot.

While Dane County has twice held cannabis advisory referendums, no other county has previously done so. With Milwaukee already on board and Dane likely to soon follow, along with several more considering it, the Nov. 6 election will be historic in the number of Wisconsin counties holding legalization advisory referendums on the same date.

If approved in committee and by the full board, Dane County voters will find this question on their ballots:

"Should marijuana be legalized, taxed and regulated in the same manner as alcohol for adults 21 years of age or older?"

The full Milwaukee County Board voted May 24 to place a cannabis legalization advisory referendum on Milwaukee County ballots Nov. 6.

Milwaukee County voters will see this question Nov. 6:

"Do you favor allowing adults 21 years of age and older to engage in the personal use of marijuana, while also regulating commercial marijuana-related activities, and imposing a tax on the sale of marijuana?"