As I predicted here, here, here, here and here, all 18 Wisconsin cannabis advisory referendums passed easily in Wisconsin’s Nov. 6 general election. The referendums got over a million votes Tuesday, sending a clear message to state officials that Wisconsin has had enough of cannabis prohibition.
Tony Evers also defeated Gov. Scott Walker in a close election that was finally called after 1am. As of this time of publication, Walker had not yet conceded. With 99% of precincts reporting, Josh Kaul leads Attorney General Schimel by more than 20,000 votes and plans to declare victory this morning.
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin easily defeated outgoing-State Se. Leah Vukmir, a longtime opponent of any kind of cannabis reform legislation. When her state senate term expires in Jan. 2019, she will be back in the private sector for the first time since she was firstv elected in 2002.
In regards to the state legislature, Republicans added a seat, now controlling the state senate 19-14. In the Assembly, Republicans will also maintain control with around 65 seats in the 99-seat chamber, meaning Evers will be working with GOP majorities in both houses. This means that passing cannabis law reform bills will still be an uphill climb.
Below are results for the referendum. All referendums passed and the number of votes for/against can be found below.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY:
“Do you favor allowing adults 21 years of age and older to engage in the personal use of marijuana, while also regulating commercial marijuana-related activities, and imposing a tax on the sale of marijuana?”
YES 70.0% 263,761
NO 30.0% 115,146
ROCK COUNTY:
“Should cannabis be legalized for adult use, taxed and regulated like alcohol, with the proceeds from the taxes used for education, healthcare and infrastructure?”
YES 69.19% 46,589
NO 30.81% 20,746
DANE COUNTY:
“Should marijuana be legalized, taxed and regulated in the same manner as alcohol for adults 21 years of age or older?”
YES 76.4% 221,668
NO 23.6% 68,557
SAUK COUNTY:
“Should the State of Wisconsin legalize medical marijuana so that people with debilitating medical conditions may access medical marijuana if they have a recommendation from a licensed Wisconsin physician?”
YES 79.99% 22,684
NO 20.01% 5673
BROWN COUNTY:
“Should cannabis be legalized in Wisconsin for medicinal purposes, and regulated in the same manner as other prescription drugs?”
YES 75.58% 85,054
NO 24.42% 27,481
LA CROSSE COUNTY:
“Should the State of Wisconsin legalize the use of marijuana by adults 21 years or older, to be taxed and regulated in the same manner that alcohol is regulated in the State of Wisconsin, with proceeds from taxes used for education, healthcare and infrastructure?”
YES 63.29% 35,843
NO 36.71% 20,791
MARATHON COUNTY:
“Should the State of Wisconsin allow individuals with debilitating medical conditions to use and safely access marijuana for medical purposes, if those individuals have a written recommendation from a licensed Wisconsin physician?” Yes:No:
YES 81.55% 49,137
NO 18.45% 11,115
PORTAGE COUNTY:
“Should the state of Wisconsin allow individuals with debilitating medical conditions to use and safely access marijuana for medical purposes, if those individuals have a written recommendation from a licensed Wisconsin physician?”Yes:No:
YES 83.0% 28,129
NO 17.0% 5,755
CLARK COUNTY:
“Should the State of Wisconsin legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes and regulate its use in the same manner as other prescription drugs?”
YES 67.0% 7674
NO 33.0% 3763
LANGLADE COUNTY:
“Should the State of Wisconsin allow individuals with debilitating medical conditions to use and safely access marijuana for medical purposes, if those individuals have a written recommendation from a licensed Wisconsin physician?”
YES 77.4% 7061
NO 22.6% 2071
MARQUETTE COUNTY:
Resolved, that “We the People” of Marquette County, Wisconsin, support the right of its citizens to acquire, possess and use medical cannabis upon the recommendation of a licensed physician, and;Be It Further Resolved, that we strongly support a statewide referendum requesting Wisconsin to join with thirty-two (32) other states that have already approved the use of medical cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain, several debilitating diseases and disabling symptoms.
YES 78.7% 5550
NO 21.3% 1502
EAU CLAIRE COUNTY:
“Should cannabis: (Please select only one of the alternatives below or your vote will be invalid) ______(a) Be legal for adult, 21 years of age and older, recreational or medical use, taxed and regulated like alcohol, with the proceeds from the taxes used for education, healthcare, and infrastructure in Wisconsin?
YES 54.20% 25,964
(b) Be legal for medical purposes only and available only by prescriptionthrough a medical dispensary?
YES 31.22% 14,958
(c) Remain a criminally illegal drug as provided under current law?”
YES 14.57% 6,982
FOREST COUNTY:
“Should the State of Wisconsin allow individuals with debilitating medical conditions to use and safely access marijuana for medical purposes, if those individuals have a written recommendation from a licensed Wisconsin physician?”
YES 78.7% 3090
NO 21.3% 834
KENOSHA COUNTY:
“Should the State of Wisconsin allow individuals with debilitating medical conditions to use and safely access marijuana for medical purposes, if those individuals have a written recommendation from a licensed Wisconsin physician?”
YES 88.0% 59,638
NO 12.0% 7753
LINCOLN COUNTY:
“Should the State of Wisconsin allow individuals with debilitating medical conditions to use and safely access marijuana for medical purposes, if those individuals have a written recommendation from a licensed Wisconsin physician?”
YES 80.83% 10,612
NO 19.17% 2,517
RACINE COUNTY:
“1. Should marijuana be legalized for medicinal use?
YES 85% 70,889
NO 15% 12,627
2. Should marijuana be legalized and regulated for adults 21 years of age or older?
YES 59.0% 49,084
NO 41.0% 33,922
3. Should marijuana sales be taxed for state and local revenue?”
YES 81.0% 66,320
NO 19.0% 15,874
CITY OF RACINE:
*Cannabis legalization for recreational use, taxed and regulated like alcohol.
YES 66.0% 17,456
NO 31.0% 8863
*Cannabis legalization for medicinal use.
YES 88.0% 22,984
NO 12.0% 3234
*Proceeds from cannabis taxes being used to fund public education, health care and infrastructure.
YES 83.0% 21,755
NO 17.0% 4405
CITY OF WAUKESHA:
“Should cannabis be legalized in Wisconsin for medicinal purposes, and regulated in the same manner as other prescription drugs?”
YES 77.0% 23,731
NO 23.0% 7243
