Portage and Forest County Committees Advance Referendums To Full Board

Posted: August 6, 2018 by Gary Storck
Category: Politics

Two more Wisconsin county board committees advanced medical cannabis advisory referendum proposals to the full board in votes Monday.

The first to do so was the Portage County Board's Health & Human Services Committee which voted unanimously to send the county's advisory referendum proposal to the full county board for a vote on Thursday, August 16. The board meets at 5:00pm in the County Board Chambers in the County-City Building, 1516 Church Street Stevens Point. Supporters are urged to attend contact their county supervisors to get the referendum over this final hurdle.

Later in the afternoon, the Forest County Board's Safety and Justice committee met and voted without objection to move their advisory referendum proposal on medical cannabis to full Board. The full board will take up the matter at 7pm on Aug. 21 in the County Board Room at the Forest County courthouse located at 200 E Madison St. Crandon, Wisconsin 54520.

Map updated on Aug. 6, 2018 showing the status of the 18 Wisconsin in which cannabis advisory referendums have been introduced.

Coming up tomorrow, Tuesday, August 7 the full St. Croix County Board will vote on the county's referendum proposal at 5pm at the St Croix County Government Center 1101 Carmichael Rd # D208, Hudson. Public support is essential to get this referendum on the ballot, as the proposal has faced strident opposition from some both on the board and in local law enforcement.

The New Richmond News reported that at the Friday, Aug. 3 meeting of the Public Protection and Judiciary Committee, the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office, along with leaders of a dozen county police departments, came out strongly against putting an advisory referendum on this fall's general election ballot. St. Croix County Speaking on behalf of the group, Sheriff Scott Knudson opposed putting the issue before voters in a non-binding referendum, saying that "legalization of marijuana could put more burden on law enforcement."

Several county supervisors also objected to allowing voters to weigh in even in an advisory way. District 6 Supervisor Bob Long said of the same county voters who elect him and other members of the board," I love public opinion, but I think we're obligated to our citizens to make sure that we're making educated decisions in putting this forward on the ballot." If you can attend please do and St. Croix county residents should contact their supervisor.

Also coming up Tuesday, August 7 at 6pm, the Racine County Board's Government Services committee will be hearing a proposal by County Supervisors Fabi Maldonado and Nick Demske to place advisory referendums on medical cannabis and adult use cannabis on Nov. 6 county ballots. If approved by the committee, the proposal will be voted on by the full board on Aug. 28, the final day to qualify for the November ballot. Supporters are needed to get the proposed referendum to the full board. The committee meets at 7pm Aug. 7 at 14200 Washington Ave, Sturtevant, WI 53177.

Previous Cannabadger coverage of Wisconsin county advisory referendums:

County Advisory Referendum Updates: Langlade, Eau Claire, Racine, Portage and more
Marathon County Board approves medical cannabis referendum 19-15
Marathon County Board to vote July 24 on medical cannabis advisory referendum
La Crosse sixth Wisconsin county to ok November cannabis advisory referendum
Brown County board approves medical cannabis advisory referendum
Sauk is 4th Wisconsin county to approve Nov. 6 cannabis advisory referendum
Dane County is third county to approve November cannabis advisory vote
Brown, St. Croix, Langlade and Sauk county cannabis advisory referendums head to full board votes
Langlade and Walworth join 8 other counties looking at cannabis advisory referendums
Cannabis legalization advisory referendum update: Rock County approves, other counties moving forward
Wisconsin County Cannabis Legalization Advisory Referendums moving forward across state
More Wisconsin counties looking at advisory referendums on pot legalization
Dane County Board to consider cannabis legalization advisory referendum for November ballot
Full Milwaukee County Board OKs cannabis legalization advisory referendum for November ballot
Milwaukee County Board committee OKs pot legalization referendum proposal; sends to full board for vote