Wisconsin lawmakers heard testimony today on Senate Bill 534, legislation that would establish a regulated medical cannabis program.
The public hearing, held by the Senate Committee on Health at the State Capitol, drew a large crowd, with the vast majority voicing strong support for the measure.
The bill, introduced by Senate President Mary Felzkowski (R), Senator Patrick Testin (R), and Representatives Patrick Snyder (R), Dean Kaufert (R), Dan Knodl (R), Paul Melotik (R), and Todd Novak (R), would create a new Office of Medical Cannabis Regulation under the Department of Health Services to oversee patient registration and dispensary licensing.
At the start of the hearing, Senator Testin highlighted that 40 other states have already legalized medical cannabis, with the latest being Texas.
“It’s time for Wisconsin to join the majority of this country by adding another option that may help patients find the help they need,” he said. “This should not be a partisan issue.
Testing said that for those who believe the measure doesn’t go far enough, it’s important to remember that
“This is a starting point”, he said. “When I introduced a medical cannabis bill in 2019 it was DOA. The public perception, especially on our side of the isle, has changed drastically in recent years.”
Senator Mary Felzkwoski urged her colleagues to approved the measure, arguing that voters don’t have an option in the state to legalize medical cannabis via ballot initiative like many other states have done.
“It is time to give our friends, family, and neighbors suffering from chronic illness the freedom to use cannabis. It can help a lot of people”, she said. “Here we are sitting in our ivory tour denying it for being who really need it, and it’s wrong we do that. I hope we can come together and help the 86% of Wisconites who are saying this is the right thing to do and help our constituents.”
Felzkowski noted that “Wisconsin is on an island surrounded by neighboring states that allow the use of medical cannabis products.”
During the hearing, numerous people spoke in support of the bill, including a 17 year old with Rett syndrome (Norah Lowe) and her parents, multiple Trible leaders, numerous people who spoke about how cannabis has helped their medical ailments, and several doctors and health professionals who believe medical cannabis should be an option for patients.
“I have many friends with Rett Syndrome, and they have access to medical cannabis”, said Lowe. “My friends with Rett syndrome who use medical cannabis actually sleep through the night and see extensive relief from painful muscle spasms. Why can’t I get relief from mine?”
Only a few people at the hearing spoke in opposition. Among those who did oppose the bill, some argued it doesn’t provide enough education to doctors and patients and it doesn’t do enough to safeguard against driving while under the influence of cannabis, while others argued that the bill is too conservative, given it doesn’t allow dried flower to be purchased or consumed.
Specifically, SB 534 allows patients with conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, severe chronic pain, and terminal illness to qualify for medical cannabis. Patients would pay $20 per year to register and could designate up to three caregivers.
Under the proposal, registered patients could access medical cannabis products in forms including oils, tinctures, capsules, edibles, topicals, patches, gels, vapors, and liquids for nebulizers. Smoking cannabis would remain prohibited, though vaporizing would be allowed. Licensed pharmacists at dispensaries would be required to consult with patients before dispensing, and initial purchases would be capped at a 30-day supply, with future purchases limited to 90 days (with the specific amount to be determined by regulators).
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection would be tasked with licensing growers, processors, and testing labs, with businesses paying $10,000 in annual fees for cultivation and processing and $5,000 for labs. All operations would be restricted to secure, enclosed facilities and subject to testing and packaging standards. A seed-to-sale tracking system would be implemented, advertising by cannabis businesses would be prohibited, and medical cannabis sales would be exempt from state sales tax.
SB 534 also provides legal protections for patients and caregivers, including against housing discrimination and child custody decisions based solely on lawful medical cannabis use. Employers, however, would retain the right to enforce drug-free workplace policies.
With Wisconsin one of the few states without a medical cannabis program, supporters argued that SB 534 is a necessary step to provide relief to patients suffering from serious medical conditions. If enacted, the state would become the 41st medical cannabis state.
The public hearing marked the first formal step in the legislature’s consideration of the bill. Committee members are expected to review testimony before deciding whether to advance SB 534 to the full Senate.
More articles from The Marijuana Herald.
