New Marijuana legalization push comes from Wisconsin’s tribes

(The Center Square) – The latest push for legal marijuana in Wisconsin is coming from the state’s tribes.

The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association and the Wisconsin Tribal Task Force on Cannabis announced plans for a public education push to try and get marijuana legalized in the state.

“The time to take action is now,” said Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association Founder Rob Pero in a statement. “As a historically and culturally appreciated plant medicine, medical cannabis offers relief for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, including aging individuals and veterans. While we wait for legalization, our communities are losing out on important medical care.”

The new Wisconsin Wellness program aims to get medical marijuana legalized in Wisconsin.

“Tribes are motivated to work within the regulations of the USDA Farm Bill and within existing legal opportunities,” Pero added. “Meanwhile, we’re going to begin educating the public about the importance of passing cannabis policy reform,”

Wisconsin is one of the few remaining states in the Midwest that doesn’t allow for either medical or recreational marijuana.

Some Republicans at the State Capitol have said they are open to a medical marijuana program, but Gov. Tony Evers said he’d rather just fully legalize it for everyone.

Pero said the back-and-forth at the Capitol is becoming a problem.

“We have to stop waiting to get good medicine to people throughout this state the right way.”

The tribes say their Wisconsin Wellness program will include “film production, state-wide advertising, and educational tools to support knowledgeable and responsible, community-centered conversations around cannabis.”

There is a Wisconsin Wellness website , but there’s no deadline for when the film or community events will come.