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MADISON, Wis. – Gov. Tony Evers announced Sunday that his 2021-2023 biennial budget proposes to regulate and tax marijuana, much like Wisconsin regulates and taxes alcohol.
According to the proposal, Wisconsin would join 15 other states, including neighboring Michigan and Illinois, in legalizing recreational marijuana.
In addition to increasing income, it will create jobs and lower costs for the criminal justice system, according to a statement. Evers recognized the medicinal benefits that could be provided to those suffering from pain and debilitating illnesses.
“The legalization and taxation of marijuana in Wisconsin – as we already do with alcohol – ensures a controlled market and safe products available to recreational and medicinal users and can open the door to countless opportunities for us to reinvest in our communities and create a more equitable state, ”said Governor Evers. “Frankly, the Red and Blue states across the country have made progress towards legalization and there is no reason Wisconsin should be left behind when we know it is supported by a majority of Wisconsinites.”
In 2019, a Marquette University law poll found that nearly 60% of Wisconsinites support the legalization of marijuana and 83% of Wisconsinites support the legalization of medical marijuana.
The legalization of marijuana is expected to generate more than $ 165 million per year. The governor is proposing to set aside $ 80 million of marijuana-generated revenue to reinvest in communities across the state through a new community reinvestment fund.
Beginning in fiscal 2023, the Community Reinvestment Fund will fund $ 30 million in capital grants through the Ministry of Health Services, the Ministry of Administration and the Ministry of Children and Families. , respectively, according to a statement. $ 5 million to fund grants to underserved communities through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and provide more than $ 34 million to support scarcity aid, which goes to small rural school districts. The remaining revenues would be deposited in the general state fund.
According to the governor’s proposal, marijuana would be taxed and regulated just like alcohol and would be regulated by both the Department of Revenue (DOR) and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
The proposal would require that the sale of recreational marijuana be sold by a marijuana retailer licensed by the DOR. Individuals would have to be 21 to purchase recreational marijuana. All sales of recreational marijuana to minors would be banned, as would alcohol. The plan also allows medical marijuana users to access the product without paying retail taxes.
Certain limits would be placed on the sale and possession of marijuana under the proposal. Residents of Wisconsin cannot own more than two ounces of marijuana and six plants for their personal use. Non-residents cannot own more than 0.25 ounces of marijuana. According to the proposal, no marijuana processor or micro-business that operates as a marijuana processor can make usable marijuana using marijuana grown outside of Wisconsin, according to a statement from the governor.
The governor’s 2019-2021 biennial budget proposed to legalize medical marijuana, but was rejected by Republicans in the legislature, according to a statement.
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