Table of Contents
Is marijuana legal in Wisconsin
1. Recreational Marijuana
- Legal Status: Illegal
- Possession Penalties:
- First offense: Misdemeanor
- Up to 6 months in jail
- Up to $1,000 fine
- Second or subsequent offenses: Felony
- Up to 3.5 years in prison
- Up to $10,000 fine
- First offense: Misdemeanor
- Paraphernalia: Possession of marijuana-related paraphernalia is also illegal and subject to additional fines.
2. Medical Marijuana
- Legal Status: Extremely limited
- Permitted Use: Only CBD oil with low or no THC content
- Qualifying Conditions: Generally restricted to seizure disorders, such as epilepsy
- Legal Framework:
- Lydia’s Law (2014): Allows use of non-psychoactive CBD for seizure disorders with physician certification
- Amendment (2017): Removes criminal penalties for possession of CBD with proof of medical authorization
- Dispensary Access: No legal dispensaries or state-regulated access; patients must obtain CBD from out-of-state sources
3. Legislative and Political Landscape
- Governor’s Position: Governor Tony Evers supports full medical and recreational legalization
- Legislative Actions:
- Legalization proposals have been included in past state budget drafts
- Multiple bills introduced in the legislature
- None have passed due to opposition from the Republican-controlled legislature
4. Public Sentiment and Future Outlook
- Public Support: Increasing public support for both medical and recreational legalization
- Outlook: Despite public demand and executive support, legislative progress remains stalled
Summary
Marijuana is illegal for recreational use in Wisconsin and only minimally permitted for medical purposes via CBD oil. Full legalization efforts are ongoing but face strong legislative resistance.
