Marijuana legalization faces uphill battle

Madeleine Behr

APPLETON - While state legislators recently allowed the use of a marijuana extract for specific medical purposes, don't expect marijuana legalization to expand anytime soon.

State Rep. Amanda Stuck told an audience in Appleton on Thursday that Wisconsin is a long way from allowing recreational or widespread medical use of marijuana.

"While (the CBD oil bill) wasn't everything we wanted, it was a step in the right direction," Stuck said. "...Frankly, I don't think we are very close to having fully legalized medical marijuana."

Stuck was joined by Outagamie County Sheriff Brad Gehring, medical professionals, attorneys and a veterans' advocate to discuss marijuana legislation for a Young Professionals Week event.

Gehring said heroin and methamphetamine — not marijuana — are currently "dominating" the attention of law enforcement, Gehring said.

Gehring said the prospect of legalizing marijuana for medical use isn't an issue compared to the potential impact of recreational marijuana use.

For those with chronic illnesses or pain, "the more stability they have in their household" from using medical marijuana could subdue violent tendencies and make them less likely to deal with law enforcement, Gehring said.

"So we understand with the cost and effects that there's some dramatic positives with medical," Gehring said.

But recreational use leads to a very different conversation among law enforcement, he said.

Gehring cited a March 2016 report from Colorado's Department of Public Safety regarding the impact of legalizing recreational marijuana in 2012. The report found:

• Arrests from marijuana possession decreased by nearly 50 percent, while arrests for marijuana production largely stayed the same.
• Burglary was the most common marijuana industry-related crime.
• Driving under the influence charges from marijuana as "the impairing substance" increased from 12 percent to 15 percent of all DUIs.
• Deaths from people driving under the influence of marijuana increased 44 percent. 

If state lawmakers take up the issue of recreational marijuana down the road, law enforcement agencies will make their positions known, Gehring said.

Bills have been introduced in the Legislature over the last decade to allow medical marijuana use, but they have not advanced, Stuck said.