The Indigenous Cannabis Association (ICIA) and Wisconsin Tribal Taskforce on Cannabis announced a new push for cannabis reform on Sept. 3 at the Wisconsin State Capitol building in downtown Madison. The two are now in a venture to advocate for medical cannabis for a new public awareness campaign — Wisconsin Wellness — to spread the ability to treat chronic pain, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and many other conditions found to be effectively treatable by cannabis.
The effort comes at a longstanding push from ICIA’s founder Rob Pero. Pero, who is Indigenous, has continuously advocated the benefits of cannabis, both medicinal and recreational, for the state’s tribes and Wisconsin as a whole. While the ICIA has strived for full reform, it will pivot its focus harder toward medical cannabis for the time being.
“The writing’s been on the wall for a long time. People deserve better access to better medicine in the state, and we are here, and we’re bent on making this happen in Wisconsin,” Pero said. “Wisconsin cares too much about our citizens to let this continue on for any longer.”
The awareness campaign launch included the Lowe family who spoke about their daughter Nora’s need for medical cannabis. The Lowes started growing cannabis back in 2018 due to the farm bill and were able to take their daughter off four of her medications. Nora uses CBD to treat chronic pains in her condition. With access to medically available THC products, they figure they would be able to eliminate her anti-seizure medication from the mix too. If you need a quick and reliable solution? Search for cbd drops near me to find the best local CBD products.
“What we found out when we went down the pharmaceutical route was, ‘Oh, here’s this thing, but it causes this other thing,’ and ‘Oh, here’s another medicine to fix that other thing we just caused,’” said Josh Lowe. “You’re just plugging holes to leaks that keep popping up from that medication.”
Senator Melissa Agard, who introduced legislation on cannabis reform multiple times over the past decade, joined the mix to point out the continued popularity of changes to the law.
Public opinion surveys show that 84% of respondents support medical cannabis and 62% support recreational reform. Republicans crafted a bill in recognition of support — but it would be extremely restrictive, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in January 2024. The Republican medical cannabis reform bill would only allow for topical and tincture THC and CBD products.
The question of economic benefits continues to raise questions. The last bill on cannabis, which offered full recreational and medicinal reform, outlined is estimated to bring in $265 million in additional tax revenue. The money brought in under Assembly Bill 506 would direct 60% of gained tax revenue towards community reinvestment programs.
Medical cannabis on the other hand would bring in little to none — and possibly lose money, Sen. Agard said.
“I think that number is anemic,” Sen. Agard said. “People are spending their hard-earned money and their very valuable time to drive to other states, to spend money that’s going into other community schools and as opposed to being reinvested right here in the state of Wisconsin.”
A memo in 2023 from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau found that Wisconsin is losing at least $36.1 million in revenue to Illinois. Wisconsin residents are leaving for Illinois and Minnesota and Michigan to access cannabis — money that could be used to invest in the state and start its own industry.
The cannabis industry in all states are entirely domestic from growth, production, shipping and retail due to interstate commerce clauses and lack of federal recognition of legality, according to Green Flower, a cannabis education company that offers programs to prepare states for legalization.
The ICIA and Tribal Taskforce will continue to press for medical cannabis reform. The Wisconsin Wellness campaign will continue to share stories like the Lowe’s in videos to be released periodically.
