Portage County approves cannabis advisory referendum on 22-1 vote

Posted: August 16, 2018 by Gary Storck
Category: Politics

UPDATED: 08/17/2018 10:46:27 PM

BREAKING NEWS: Clark County becomes the ninth Wisconsin county to approve a medical cannabis advisory referendum and the 20th overall to consider it. The board unanimously approved the referendum at their Thursday, Aug. 16 meeting.
The referendum will ask voters: "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?"

History was again made with the Portage County Board voting 22-1 to approve a medical cannabis advisory referendum for the Nov. 6 ballot this evening in Stevens Point. The vote makes Portage County the eighth Wisconsin county to pass a cannabis advisory referendum for the Nov. 6 ballot. Previously only Dane County has held cannabis advisory referendums in 2010 and 2014. The question will read: "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?"

With the August 28 deadline for getting on the Nov. 6 ballot fast approaching, the Door County Daily News reported a late effort. Door County would be the 19th Wisconsin county to consider a cannabis advisory referendum. Four others have rejected proposals. In addition the cities of Racine and Waukesha will have cannabis advisory referendums on their ballots Nov. 6.

Latest map of Wisconsin counties that and advisory referendum status as of 8-17-2018.

On August 14, the Eau Claire County Board's Administration committee unanimously passed a resolution to put a medical cannabis advisory referendum on Eau Claire ballots on Nov. 6. The proposal now moves to the full board for a vote on August 21 at 7pm. The board meets at the Eau Claire County Courthouse, County Boardroom (Room 1277) 721 Oxford Ave. Eau Claire.

August 21 will be a busy day for final votes on advisory referendums. Four other counties in addition to Eau Claire County will be holding votes on approving cannabis advisory referendums, Langlade, Fond du Lac, Forest and Kenosha. The Racine County Board votes August 28.

At 9am, the full Langlade County board will consider the county's medical cannabis advisory referendum proposal. The meeting will be held in the County Board Room in the lower level of the Safety Building at 840 Clermont Street in Antigo. The proposed Langlade County question is
"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?"

In Fond du Lac County, Supervisors Mary Hayes and Lisette Aldrich's advisory referendum proposal will be discussed at the board's next meeting on Tuesday, August 21 at 6pm at the City-County Government Center, Legislative Chambers, 160 S. Macy Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 54935.

The Forest County Board will consider a medical cannabis advisory referendum at 7pm on Aug. 21 in the County Board Room at the Forest County courthouse located at 200 E Madison St. Crandon, Wisconsin 54520. The proposed wording is: "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?"

The Kenosha County board will also be voting vote on August 21, at 7:30 pm at the County Administration Building, Third Floor, 1010 56th St. Kenosha. The Board's Legislative committee previously debated the medical advisory referendum July 17, and voted to send it to the full board by a 4-3 margin.

The proposed question to be asked Kenosha County voters is "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?"

Previous Cannabadger coverage of Wisconsin county advisory referendums:

Racine County Board moves cannabis advisory referendum one step closer plus other updates
St. Croix board rejects referendum 9-8, Racine county committee okays board vote
Portage and Forest County Committees Advance Referendums To Full Board
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