A companion bill to legislation filed Tuesday that would legalize marijuana in Wisconsin was introduced today in the State Assembly.
House Bill 1061 was filed by State Rep. Darrin Madison (D), along with nearly 50 cosponsors, mirroring Senate Bill 1045, which was introduced by 47 lawmakers led by State Senator LaTonya Johnson (D).
Like its Senate counterpart, HB 1061 would legalize marijuana for those 21 and older and create a regulated market overseen by a newly established Division of Cannabis Regulation within the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The Department of Revenue would also play a role in retail oversight and licensing.
The proposal would allow adults to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana flower in public, up to five pounds in a private residence, up to 15 grams of concentrate and up to one gram of THC in infused products. It would also establish a medical marijuana registry program for patients diagnosed with qualifying conditions such as cancer, PTSD, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease and ALS.
Under the legislation, marijuana would be subject to a 10% wholesale excise tax, a 5% retail excise tax and an additional 3% tax on marijuana flower dedicated to a Cannabis Research Fund within the Department of Health Services. Annual license fees for businesses would be set at $3,000, plus a $250 application fee and background investigation costs.
The measure would also create a Cannabis Conviction Review Unit within the Department of Administration to identify individuals eligible for expungement or sentence adjustments for prior marijuana-related offenses. Those currently serving sentences, on probation or who have completed their sentences could petition courts for relief.
