Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker today signed into law 2017 Senate Bill 119, regarding industrial hemp production, at a signing ceremony at the Capitol, making the state the 34th to allow farmers to grow hemp..
The bill's signing today followed unanimous votes in both houses the same week, the senate passing it Nov. 7 in a 33-0 vote and the Assembly following suit Nov. 9 in a 92-0 vote.
While the Oshkosh city clerk has completed reviewing petitions collected to reduce cannabis fines to $25 in the city of Oshkosh and ruled petitioners exceeded the total needed under state law, the Oshkosh city attorney is contending the petitions seek to repeal or amend the existing ordinance which they claim is not permitted under state law. The city council has the petition on the agenda for tonight's (Nov. 28) council meeting which starts at 6:00 pm in Room 406 at city hall at 215 Church Avenue.
After SB119, bipartisan industrial hemp legislation cleared both houses in unanimous votes the same week, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's spokesman Tom Evenson said he would review the bill but did not commit to signing it.
Under state law, once a bill is passed by both chambers, the Wisconsin governor has three options: veto it, sign it or do nothing. If the governor chooses to do nothing, the bill automatically becomes law 6 business days after they receive it.
With hemp bill passed, where do other cannabis bills stand?
November 15, 2017 Gary Storck Leave a comment Edit
While state lawmakers finally came together and unanimously voted in both houses the same week to pass SB119, the industrial hemp bill, now awaiting the signature of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the prognosis for passage of other cannabis-related legislation this session appears dim.
Despite strong public support, the legislature’s Republican majority has been very cool to moving bills that would legalize the medical and recreational use of cannabis.
Hemp, Politics
Wisconsin Assembly passes hemp bill, sends to Gov. Walker
November 9, 2017 Gary Storck Leave a comment Edit
After passing the State Senate Tuesday Nov. 7 in a 33-0 vote and a Wednesday hearing in the Assembly Agriculture committee, Wisconsin’s bipartisan hemp bill SB119/AB183 moved directly to a floor vote in the Assembly Thursday evening. The Assembly passed the bill in a unanimous 92-0 vote.
Breaking News, Hemp, Politics
Wisconsin Senate passes hemp bill, Assembly to vote Nov. 9
November 7, 2017 Gary Storck Leave a comment Edit
UPDATE: 11/08/2017 10:00:58 PM: SB119 has been placed on the Assembly calendar for Thursday Nov. 9. The Assembly session is set for a 1:00pm start and is on Wisconsin Eye’s live coverage schedule. SB119 appears with Senate bills scheduled after Assembly bills to be voted on.
Hemp, Politics
Wisconsin Senate schedules Hemp Bill floor vote for Nov. 7
November 4, 2017 Gary Storck Leave a comment Edit
It has been 60 years since Wisconsin farmers legally grew hemp, but it looks like that may change soon as hemp legislation takes another big step forward. Wisconsin Senate Bill 119, the bipartisan-sponsored GOP-authored industrial hemp bill has been scheduled for a vote by the full Wisconsin Senate on Tuesday Nov. 7, according to the office on Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point), the bill’s senate sponsor.
Legalization, Medical, Politics
Letter to the Editor: Kitchens Wrong on Pot Legalization
November 3, 2017 Gary Storck Leave a comment Edit
An October 27 article in the Door County Pulse by Jim Lundstrom, “Kitchens Listens: Manure, Marijuana and Mining,” discussed a listening session Rep. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) held at Algoma’s City Hall Oct. 16. An attendee asked Kitchens about AB482, the cannabis legalization bill introduced by Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison):