Sen. Jon Erpenbach

A long-time advocate says the latest medical marijuana bill being offered by Republican legislators falls far short of what people need to access the drug. Gary Storck of Madison heads the group Is My Medicine Legal Yet?  “Some ability to grow your own me
Medical

Wisconsin Radio Network: Advocate and Democrats critical of latest Republican medical marijuana bill

February 2, 2022 - There has been a fair amount of media coverage regarding the recently announced Medical Cannabis Light proposal introduced by Sen. Mary Felzkowski and other Republicans here in the waning days of the 2021-2022 legislative session. Wisconsin Radio Network's Bob Hague wrote a report for Wisconsin Radio Network published January 31, 2022 that included comments I'd made in an interview a few days...

Medical

Today in Wisconsin Cannabis History: Page 242: The Rise and Fall of Cannabis Prohibition in Wisconsin: 2009: Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act press conference

November 16, 2020 - On Nov. 16, 2009, with Democrats in control of both houses of the Wisconsin legislature and the governor's office, Sen. Jon Erpenbach and Rep. Mark Pocan roll out the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act with Jacki Rickert on hand.

History

Dec. 15, 2019 marks 10th anniversary of historic 2009 combined health committee hearing on the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act

December 14, 2019 - Dec. 15, 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of the Dec. 15, 2009 combined health committee hearing on the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (JRMMA).   In Nov. 2008, Democrats swept into power in Wisconsin, gaining control of both houses of the state legislature with incumbent Gov. Jim Doyle already holding down the executive branch since 2003. Then-Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Sen. Jon...

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Robin Vos says medical cannabis should only be available in pill form

October 29, 2019 - In an interview with Channel3000, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he will not support a bill allowing patients to cultivate medical cannabis, "It shouldn't be smoked. It should be taken in pill form. It shouldn't even be edible so a child could get at it." Asked what conditions his plan would cover, Vos cited terminal cancer, Crohn's disease, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other diagnoses that involve...

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Bipartisan Wisconsin Medical Cannabis Bill Referred to Senate Committee Chaired by Opponent

October 18, 2019 - Bipartisan medical cannabis legislation authored by Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D- West Point), Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) and Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) today received a senate bill number, SB507 and was referred to the senate committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection. The referral to a committee other than the Senate Health committee, where previous bills were...

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47 years as a medical cannabis patient Oct. 3

October 3, 2019 - Today, Wednesday, October 3, 2019 is a special date for me, marking the 47th "cannaversary" of the first time I smoked cannabis before visiting my ophthalmologist for a glaucoma checkup and discovering cannabis had the potential to save my sight from a lifetime of glaucoma. October 3, 1972 was a pleasant early fall day. The weather history says the high for the day was 63 with southerly winds...

Breaking News

Major state media outlets focus on Wisconsin medical cannabis patients and hopes for passage

April 9, 2019 - On Sunday April 7, two long articles about medical cannabis legalization in Wisconsin were published, the first in the Wisconsin State Journal, the second a project of the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (WCIJ) that appeared in media all over the state starting including the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WisconsinWatch.org, Wisconsin Law Journal, US News & World Report, Channel3000,...

Medical

Reaction To Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' Cannabis Proposals

February 19, 2019 - On Monday, February 18, 2019, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers held a press conference in the State Capitol rotunda in Madison to announce his proposals to include medical cannabis, statewide cannabis decriminalization and other cannabis law reforms in his upcoming state budget. Among those also in attendance and speaking were Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) and Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison), who have...

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....

Medical

Looking back at Wisconsin 2009 joint committee hearing on medical cannabis

December 15, 2018 - In Nov. 2008, Democrats swept into power in Wisconsin, gaining control of both houses of the state legislature with incumbent Gov. Jim Doyle already holding down the executive branch. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) were the sponsors of Assembly Bill 554/Senate Bill 368, the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (JRMMA). With Democrats chairing both health committees...

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