Republican legislators introduce medical marijuana legislation

Forty states currently have laws allowing medical marijuana, including the neighboring states of Michigan, Illinois, and Minnesota. If passed, Senate Bill 534, proposed by Senator Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk), Senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point), and Representative Patrick Snyder (R-Weston), would make Wisconsin the 41^st state.

The proposed legislation would create a licensing program for growers, processors, labs, and dispensaries. 

Dispensary licenses would be granted only to those who live in Wisconsin or to offices where at least 80% of the company’s board members are Wisconsinites. Licensees would also have to prove to the state that their facilities have “sufficient security features,” among other requirements. Dispensary licenses would cost $5,000 per year. 

The bill’s language requires dispensaries to have “at least one pharmacist who, through education, training, and experience, is qualified to advise patients and caregivers on appropriate uses and dosages of medical cannabis products and potential interactions between medical cannabis products and other drugs …”

Only those 18 and older would be able to get a medical marijuana card. Anyone convicted of a felony would have their card revoked.

The list of medical conditions that would qualify someone for a card includes cancer, seizures or epilepsy, glaucoma, severe chronic pain, severe muscle spasms, severe chronic nausea, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and any terminal illness with a probable life expectancy of less than a year. Medical marijuana could potentially reduce the overprescription of opioids.

Most of those who spoke at the public hearing were in support of the legalization of medical marijuana in some form, although some thought the bill was too restrictive and some felt it was not strict enough. 

Wisconsin Society of Medicine’s Dr. Ritu Bhatnagar, an addiction psychiatrist, raised concerns over the lack of formal education requirements for those diagnosing, prescribing, and dispensing medical marijuana. She testified that the bill lacked quality control and potency regulations, as well as safeguards in packaging requirements and ways to address impaired driving.

Peter Swan, who owns a hemp cannabis store in Pewaukee, argued the measure is “too restrictive,” adding it shouldn’t outlaw smokable marijuana. He also raised concerns that it fails to address the concerns of people suffering from ADHD, anxiety, sleep disorders, inflammation, and PTSD. 

'Quality of life'

Nora Lowe, a 17-year-old who suffers from Rett syndrome, said her friends who have the same disorder and can access medical marijuana can sleep through the night and get relief from painful muscle spasms. It also helps improve their communication skills and regulate their movements and breathing patterns.

“I want my breath-holding episodes to stop,” she said through a speech assistance program. “I believe that I deserve the same opportunities to improve my quality of life. Don’t you?”

Questions remain about the cost and feasibility of hiring a pharmacist for each dispensary, as well as how federal laws would threaten the licensure of participating medical providers.  Telehealth availability was not addressed in the bill. 

Medical marijuana bills have frequently been introduced in Wisconsin. 

Senator Testin introduced a bill back in 2019.  In his emotional testimony, Testin talked about his grandfather suffering from terminal cancer.  The family decided to go outside the law to get marijuana to ease his grandfather’s pain and increase his appetite.  Testin feels everyone deserves such medical freedom.

Senate Democratic Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein introduced a bill to legalize medical marijuana in 2022.  At that time, Assembly Speaker Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester) insisted the facilities be state-run. That was a nonstarter for Senate Republicans.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin authored one of the first medical marijuana proposals when she was in the state Assembly.

Based on the Marquette February 2025 poll, 86% of Wisconsinites support medical cannabis, with 78% of Republicans, 84% of independents, and 95% of Democrats in favor.   

The Senate Committee on Health, chaired by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara, did not vote on the proposed legislation. Although the bill appears to have bipartisan support, amendments are likely to be considered.

The medical marijuana bill has yet to be heard in the Assembly Committee on Health. Representative Snyder expressed concern that it could be stalled by Assembly leadership, as was the postpartum bill, which also had broad bipartisan support.