The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) and Wisconsin Tribal Task Force on Cannabis on Tuesday announced the launch of its Wisconsin Wellness campaign, aimed at legalizing medical cannabis in the state, according to a Daily Cardinal report. Wisconsin is the only Upper Midwest state without some form of cannabis legalization.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Wisconsin Tribal Task Force on Cannabis Founder Michael Decorah noted that there’s currently no legislation in Wisconsin seeking to enact the reforms. Decorah added that those in need of medical cannabis often have to travel to nearby states – such as Michigan and Illinois, which have legalized both medical and adult-use cannabis – to obtain their medicine.
“Our citizens are having to make a choice of whether to really commit a crime to go get their medicine and bring it back to the state.” — Decorah, during a press conference, via the Daily Cardinal
In April, the Ho-Chunk Nation decriminalized cannabis on tribal lands but the reforms don’t offer protections from federal prosecution.
The advocates were joined by state Sen. Melissa Agard (D), who said that in addition to the social and medical benefits for communities, cannabis legalization would lead to “well over $160 million in additional tax revenue every single year.”
ICIA founder and cannabis entrepreneur Rob Pero added that the groups support cannabis industry regulation.
“There’s businesses out there that are really doing the due diligence to create good, viable medicine,” he said during his remarks, “and we want to make sure that those businesses are protected as well.”
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