Marijuana possession and manufacturing/delivery, regardless of the form, is currently illegal in Wisconsin. The bill would create a new sentencing disparity for marijuana resin. Under the bill, a second or subsequent offense of possessing or attempting to possess resin would have escalating penalties depending on the amount involved. If it involves more than 50 grams, about 1.76 ounces, it would be a Class E felony. But under current law, a similar repeat offense for tetrahydrocannabinols—regardless of the amount—is a Class I felony. This bill represents a continuation of past policies and paradigms we know have had detrimental effects on people, families, and communities across our state while also creating a new sentencing disparity for marijuana resin.
States across our country—both Democrat and Republican-controlled alike—have and are taking meaningful steps to address increased incarceration rates and reduce racial disparities by investing in substance use treatment, community reentry programming, alternatives to incarceration, rehabilitation, and other datadriven, evidence-based practices we know are essential solutions to reforming our justice system. The data and the science are clear on this issue, and I welcome the Legislature to start having meaningful conversations around justice reform in Wisconsin.
As former Governor Tommy Thompson has said in recent years, “I've also come to believe that our corrections system and incarceration practices are both financially unsustainable and provide questionable outcomes worthy of strenuous review.” I agree. And this bill would simply be another step in the wrong direction.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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Speaker's Communications
February 7, 2022
Representative Joel Kitchens
Room 220 North, State Capitol
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Representative Kitchens:
hist149891Pursuant to Assembly Rule 42 (3)(c), with your permission as Chair of the Environment committee, I will remove Assembly Bill 943 from the committee and refer the bill to the State Affairs committee. hist0Please contact my office with any questions. Sincerely,
ROBIN J. VOS
Assembly Speaker
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Communications
February 4, 2022
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
hist149819Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 948, relating to nonprobate transfers of farming implements at death. Sincerely,
ROBERT BROOKS
State Representative
60th Assembly District
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February 7, 2022
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
hist149898Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 506, relating to warning lamps on highway vehicles. hist149899Please add my name as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 508, relating to warning lamps on highway vehicles. Sincerely,
JESSE JAMES
State Representative
68th Assembly District
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February 7, 2022
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
hist149931Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 899, relating to requiring one credit of personal financial literacy for high school graduation. Sincerely,
BARBARA DITTRICH
State Representative
38th Assembly District
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February 7, 2022
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
hist149937Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 814, relating to rehired annuitant teachers. Sincerely,
TODD NOVAK
State Representative
51st Assembly District
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February 7, 2022
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
hist149945Please add my name as a co-sponsor of Assembly Bill 959, relating to authorizing Purple Heart Reservation highway signs on the Oneida Reservation. Sincerely,
ANDRÉ JACQUE
State Senator
1st Senate District
