Friday, Dec. 16, 2022
Is marijuana legalization included in Wisconsin’s proposed budget every year?
Wisconsin's Democratic Gov. Tony Evers recommended the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana in 2019 and 2021 — the years in which the biennial state budget was passed since he was elected.
Evers' 2019 proposal presented a medical marijuana program and the decriminalization of small amounts of the substance, while his 2021 plan proposed legalizing recreational use. Republican lawmakers rejected both, removing them from the budgets.
In 2022, Republicans filed a limited medical cannabis measure, but the bill did not make it past the hearing stage.
In fall 2022, Evers said he plans to propose legalization once again for the 2023-25 budget. His office estimated the state would earn about $165 million from legalization in the second year of the budget. The governor said he would use the revenue to fund initiatives related to K-12 education, community development and medical care.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Wisconsin Department of Administration 2019–21 Wisconsin executive budget
- State of Wisconsin Press release: Gov. Evers proposes legalizing marijuana, investing portion of revenue in equity initiatives and rural schools
- Wisconsin State Legislature 2021 Senate Bill 1034
- Marijuana Moment Wisconsin governor pledges to put marijuana legalization In upcoming budget after voters approve reform on the ballot
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Evers wants to legalize marijuana in Wisconsin; challenger Michels wants it to stay banned
About fact briefs
Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.
See all fact briefs
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
Learn MoreLatest Fact Briefs
Do recent studies link water fluoridation with less dental decay in children?
Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
Are airline flights the safest mode of transportation in the U.S.?
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025