MADISON, Wis. – Governor Tony Evers announced on Sunday that his 2021-23 biennial budget proposes regulating and taxing marijuana in the same way that Wisconsin regulates and taxes alcohol.
Under the proposal, Wisconsin would join 15 other states, including neighbors Michigan and Illinois, in legalizing recreational marijuana.
In addition to increasing revenue, this will create jobs and reduce the costs of the criminal justice system, a statement said. Evers recognized the medicinal benefits that can be provided to those suffering from debilitating pain and illness.
“Legalizing and taxing marijuana in Wisconsin – as we already do with alcohol – guarantees a controlled market and a safe product available for recreational and medicinal users and can open the door to countless opportunities to reinvest in our communities and create a fair state” , said Governor Evers. “Frankly, the red and blue states across the country have moved forward with legalization and there is no reason why Wisconsin should be left behind, when we know it is supported by the majority of Wisconsin residents.”
In 2019, a Marquette University Law Survey found that nearly 60% of Wisconsin residents support the legalization of marijuana and 83% of Wisconsin residents support the legalization of medical marijuana.
Marijuana legalization is expected to generate more than $ 165 million annually. The governor proposes to set aside $ 80 million of the proceeds generated by marijuana to reinvest in communities across the state through a new Community Reinvestment Fund.
Starting in fiscal year 2023, the Community Reinvestment Fund will finance $ 30 million in capital donations through the Department of Health Services, the Department of Administration and the Department of Children and Families, respectively, said a statement. $ 5 million to fund donations to underserved communities through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and provide more than $ 34 million to support sparse aid, which goes to small rural school districts. The remaining revenue would be deposited in the general state fund.
According to the governor’s proposal, marijuana would be taxed and regulated in the same way as alcohol and would be regulated both by the Department of Revenue (DOR) and by the Department of Agriculture, Commerce and Consumer Protection.
The proposal would require that the sale of marijuana for recreational use be sold by a marijuana retailer with a license issued by DOR. Individuals would need to be 21 to buy recreational marijuana. All recreational marijuana sales to minors would be banned, as would alcohol. The plan also provides a way for medical marijuana users to access the product without paying retail taxes.
According to the proposal, certain limits would be imposed on the sale and possession of marijuana. Wisconsin residents cannot carry more than 60 grams of marijuana and six plants for personal use. Non-residents cannot have more than 0.25 ounces of marijuana. Under the proposal, no marijuana processor or microenterprise that operates as a marijuana processor can make marijuana usable using marijuana grown outside of Wisconsin, a statement from the governor said.
The 2019-21 biennial governor’s budget proposed legalizing medical marijuana, but it was rejected by Republicans in the legislature, a statement said.