Madison – States across the country are implementing legislation on medical and recreational marijuana use, and local ballot initiatives in Wisconsin show support for discussion of the issue here. The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Evidence-Based Health Policy Project (EBHPP) will host a briefing to help inform this discussion in Wisconsin by taking a look at what we know (and don’t know) about the health effects of cannabis, and a look at the implementation of these laws in other states. The event will be held at the Wisconsin State Capitol, Room 411-South, on Tuesday, March 19 from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Program registration is available through this link.

The event, Just the Facts: What the Evidence Says (and Doesn’t) About Medical Marijuana, will feature perspectives from two national experts on this issue:

o Dr. Robert Wallace, MD, MSc, Professor and Irene Ensminger Stecher Professor in Cancer Research, University of Iowa College of Public Health, will discuss the evidence on the health effects of cannabis and his involvement in a 2017 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Report on this topic.

o Karmen Hanson, MA, Behavioral Health Program Director, National Conference of State Legislatures, will discuss the implementation of medical and recreational cannabis laws in other states, public health and public safety considerations, issues of revenue and taxation, and other considerations.

The EBHPP is a partnership of the UW Population Health Institute, the La Follette School of Public Affairs, and the Wisconsin Legislative Council. The non-partisan project bridges medicine and health policy, as well as research and practice, to serve the Wisconsin Legislature and other decision-makers. Originally formed in 2002, the EBHPP aims to connect localized health research with key stakeholders in Wisconsin, with the goal of encouraging an evidence-informed approach to policy-making.