Sen. Fred Risser


Medical

Senator Patrick Testin appointed chair of Wisconsin Senate Health Committee

December 17, 2018 - Wisconsin Senate Republican Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has announced state senate committee chairmanships for the upcoming 2019-2020 legislative session. In a move that could be a game-changer, Fitzgerald appointed Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) to chair the Senate Health Committee, a position long held by Sen. Leah Vukmir, who gave up her state senate seat in a losing bid for the U....

Politics

Cannabis related bills that failed to pass in the Wisconsin 2017-2018 legislative session

April 4, 2018 - As a longtime Wisconsin cannabis activist, I've felt the excitement of the potential of many a new legislative session and mourned the missed potential when lawmakers failed to act when the sessions drew to a close. And that is where Wisconsin is at now at the close of the 2017-2018 legislative session. While few could have predicted GOP lawmakers' embrace of industrial hemp this session after so...

Decriminalization

Wisconsin Republican who sponsored decriminalization bill not seeking reelection

March 1, 2018 - Wisconsin State Representative Adam Jarchow (R-Balsam Lake) a conservative Republican who sponsored bipartisan statewide cannabis decriminalization legislation in 2017, announced in a statement today he would not seek re-election to his state assembly seat this November.https://drydenwire.com/news/jarchow-says-politicians-are-like-diapers-de... In January, Jarchow lost a special Senate election for...

History

Cannabadger 2017 Year In Review

December 15, 2017 - CBD, Decriminalization, Direct Legislation, Hemp, History, Legalization, Medical, Politics, Recreational Cannabadger 2017 Year In Review December 15, 2017 Gary Storck Leave a comment Edit 2017 was Cannabadger’s most productive year so far, with 81 articles posted in addition to this post so far, thanks to a number of high profile cannabis bills. 2016 produced 61 posts by comparison. According to...

Politics

With hemp bill passed, where do other cannabis bills stand?

November 15, 2017 - With hemp bill passed, where do other cannabis bills stand? November 15, 2017 Gary Storck Leave a comment Edit While state lawmakers finally came together and unanimously voted in both houses the same week to pass SB119, the industrial hemp bill, now awaiting the signature of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the prognosis for passage of other cannabis-related legislation this session appears dim....

Decriminalization

Wisconsin pot decriminalization bill has support across political spectrum

June 25, 2017 - Wisconsin's historic new bipartisan cannabis decriminalization bill Senate Bill 318 includes a number of sponsors of cannabis law reform legislation not seen before the current legislative session. Not only is the lead Assembly sponsor a Republican, Rep. Adam Jarchow (R-Balsam Lake), there are five other GOP cosponsors, Kathleen Bernier (R-Lake Hallie), Reps. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) Dale...

Decriminalization

History made as bipartisan Wisconsin pot decriminalization bill rolled out

May 31, 2017 - History was made May 30 with a Capitol press conference announcing the introduction of bipartisan statewide decriminalization legislation. The bill, LRB-1507/1, is sponsored by Rep. Adam Jarchow (R-Balsam Lake), along with Reps. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee), Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee) and Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison). The bill is historical not only in that it is Rep. Jarchow's first time sponsoring...

Politics

70% of Wisconsin State Senators sponsor cannabis-related bills in 2017

May 17, 2017 - Updated 2017-05-30 5:46:39 PM So far in the 2017-2018 session, 24 of 33 Wisconsin state senators have sponsored or cosponsored at least one cannabis-related bill. Of the 9 senators who have not signed on to any cannabis-related legislation, all are Republicans, who hold the majority with 20 seats. Up until May 30, the group included one Democrat, 90-year old Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison). Although...

CBD

Senate CBD bill heads for floor vote, Assembly version introduced

February 3, 2017 - An executive session was held Feb. 2 on Senate Bill 10 in the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety after the Jan. 31 public hearing. The vote was 4-0, and having passed out of committee SB10 is available for scheduling for a Senate floor vote. Sens. Wanggaard, Testin, L. Taylor and Risser voted in favor. State Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, was excused from the vote. Stroebel was...

CBD

Senate CBD bill public hearing set for Jan. 31

January 26, 2017 - Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) has scheduled a public hearing in his Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety on his newly introduced CBD Oil bill SB10 for Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017 at 12:30pm in Room 411 South at the State Capitol. This is the largest hearing room at the Capitol and the location of last session’s CBD bill Senate hearing in Nov. 2015. A hearing notice should be forthcoming soon from...