With two pro-cannabis Democrats elected into office in Wisconsin, it is easy to assume that marijuana is on the fast track to legalization in the state.
Governor-elect Tony Evers is set to take office this December, replacing anti-weed Republican Scott Walker.
Regardless of the number of Republicans opposed to legalization, the results of the referendum were overwhelming.
Up to 85 percent of voters supported the legalization of medicinal marijuana in Racine county, and 76 percent approved recreational use, according to the Racine County Clerk’s office. But Wisconsin is still a long way from legalization.
It’s been over 20 years since medical marijuana was first legalized in the state of California, and since then 32 other states have followed suit along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to the National Confederation for Strong Legislatures, commonly known as the NCSL.
So, what does Wisconsin have to do to jump on the bandwagon?
Eric Marsh, Chief Executive of the Southeastern Wisconsin branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, has been asking himself this question for a long time.
Marsch and his team are taking action for what they believe can help many people. A few of the members spent months volunteering with the Bernie Sanders campaign and Marsch says it helped him get acquainted with politicians in Wisconsin.
Audio: Meet Executive Director of the SE WI NORML, Eric Marsch. Sit down in Comet Café and hear his story.
With many unsuccessful attempts to change legislation for SE WI NORML, they keep fighting. Marsh says that it’s time to fight for legal binding actions, unlike the referendum in November.
The NORML team was instrumental in getting the referendum on the ballot in November. Joe Boppre and his wife, Nancy proposed the referendum to their alderman in Waukesha, and had it passed quickly.
“We’re really happy about that,” Boppre said at the SE WI NORML meeting in November.
Waukesha’s referendum was to determine the public’s opinion on legal medicinal cannabis.
They have made many attempts at legalization. For example, they attempted to lower the fine for possession from $400 to $5 by conducting a petition drive in West Milwaukee, but it was shut down by the state, according to Marsch.
The best way to do this is through smaller, more local governments and municipalities, according to Marsch. After getting repeatedly shut down at the state level, Marsch and his team have changed tactics, hosting a petition drive similar to the ones conducted in Colorado.
They have also launched decriminalization initiatives around the state and are currently lobbying to hold more referendums on the ballot in April, in Outagamie, Winnebago, Jefferson, Dodge, and Waukesha Counties.
The SE WI NORML meets once a month in the Milwaukee Public Library Downtown.
One first-time attendee was Terry Johnson, who was there to support the legalization of medicinal marijuana, as it would help treat schizophrenia and anxiety.
Carrie Maderer was also at the SE WI NORML meeting in November.
“I’m interested in moving this forward,” Maderer said. She and was there to support the legalization of medicinal marijuana, as it would help treat her daughter’s cancer.
One of the regular attendees is Keith Meadows, former director of the Waukesha NORML.
They say they are everyday people standing up for what they believe in, fighting to change laws that restrict Wisconsinites from treatment of illnesses.