The Assembly Committee on Children and Families has scheduled an executive session on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at 9:00 AM in 415 Northwest to vote on AB49/SB10 CBD legislation. The lead sponsors are Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) and Rep. Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa) and the bills have broad bipartisan support in both houses.

Previously the committee held a public hearing on Feb. 15. The full senate already held a floor vote Feb 8 passing SB10 by a 31-1 margin with one member abstaining.

Legislative leaders have vowed to pass AB49/SB10 by March, and Gov. Scott Walker has promised to sign it but has said he doesn’t support fully legalizing medical cannabis. Committee Democrats and some of those testifying at the AB49 hearing strongly questioned the restrictive language of the bill, which legalizes possession of CBD with a doctor’s note but provides no means of supply or in-state production. Patients and families would be left to find their own source of cannabidiol. The bill has the support of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, but is opposed by the WI Chiefs of Police Association. The State Medical Society, which spoke against last session’s bills at the 2015 Senate public hearing has not taken a position for or against AB49/SB10.

Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee), is currently circulating a proposal to legalize in-state CBD production and sales. With the GOP leadership and Gov. Walker having already stated that AB49/SB10 represents the limits of their compassion for patients who can benefit from CBD, Larson’s bill faces an uncertain future in the GOP-controlled legislature.