WPR: WI Gov. candidate Barrett would sign "very narrow" MMJ bill, More lawmakers plan to retire

Mayor Tom Barrett says will sign bill

MADISON: This morning on Joy Cardin’s show on Wisconsin Public Radio, Milwaukee mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett told a caller that if elected Wisconsin governor this November, he would be willing to sign a medical cannabis bill if it was worded "very, very, very narrow."

Barrett, when reminded, could not recall a 1998 congressional vote against medical cannabis.

Meanwhile, a reliable cosponsor of medical marijuana legislation in the Wisconsin Legislature for many years, Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison), became the latest lawmaker to announce he was not seeking reelection. The full current tally shows more opponents are leaving the legislature than supporters.

The Wisconsin State Journal reported Monday on the exodus:

Now seven Democrats, 12 Republicans, and Jeff Wood, an independent, have said they aren’t coming back for another term. Assembly members include: Chuck Benedict, D-Beloit; Black, D-Madison; Brett Davis, R-Oregon; Don Friske, R-Merrill; Mark Gundrum, R-New Berlin; Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville; Mary Hubler, D-Rice Lake; Thomas Lothian, R-Williams Bay; Phil Montgomery, R-Ashwaubenon; Thomas Nelson, D-Kaukauna; Kitty Rhoades, R-Hudson; Roger Roth, R-Appleton; Gary Sherman, D-Port Wing; John Townsend, R-Fond du Lac; Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa; Wood, I-Chippewa Falls, and Rich Zipperer, R-Pewaukee. Senators who aren’t seeking re-election include: Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield; Alan Lasee, R-De Pere; and Judy Robson, D-Beloit. -- Wisconsin State Journal, May 10, 2010.

Rep. Brett Davis (R-Oregon)

Rep. Brett Davis (R-Oregon), a former aide to Tommy Thompson as governor and at HHS, has not caught up with his former boss on medical marijuana. While Thompson said he supported it on his 2008 run for the presidency, Davis has been against it as he abandons his seat for a run for Lieutenant Governor.

Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin), who chaired Assembly Criminal Justice when the GOP was in control of the Assembly, has never been a supporter, nor has Rep. Kitty Rhoades (R-Hudson).

Rep. Thomas Lothian, (R-Williams Bay) wrote the following to a constituent in late March 2010:

"I can not support the Medical Marijuana Act. Law enforcement and the State Attorney General have a number of concerns regarding this legislation. The legislation would make it extremely difficult to discern between a regular user of this drug and one that is using it for medical reasons. Due to this and many other reasons, I can not support the bill."

Rep. Leah Vukmir is the most vitriolic anti-medical cannabis zealot in the Legislature. She is leaving her Assembly seat to challenge incumbent Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa), who is reportedly sympathetic to the issue.

Rep. John Townsend (R-Fond du Lac), made his opposition clear in a Dec. 2009 Fond du Lac Reporter article.

State Rep. John Townsend said he opposes any marijuana use, and would vote against the bill.

"Under federal law, it is an illegal substance, and there may by some problems with that. Some state statutes allow medical marijuana, but my question is whether it is really being used for medical purposes - or is it recreational? And who is regulating this use? I've been in contact with the local medical community, and they are not in favor of it," he said. -- "Will Wisconsin Legalize Medical Marijuana?" Dec. 2, 2009, Fond du Lac Reporter.

Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield)

Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) walked out of a 2008 medical cannabis informational hearing and did not bother to attend the 2009 combined Health Committee hearing although a member of Senate Health. He also appeared in a tv "debate" with Sen. Erpenbach prior to the combined hearing in which he supported current law and continuing to arrest patients using medical cannabis in Wisconsin

Wisconsin medical cannabis supporters owe Rep. Black and other departing supporters their gratitude for their support of medical cannabis legislation going back many sessions. Medical cannabis supporters are sad to see Rep. Chuck Benedict (D-Beloit), a retired neurologist who chairs the Assembly Public Health committee and co-chaired the Dec. 15 hearing is not seeking reelection. While not a cosponsor, Rep. Benedict showed much compassion and a sincere desire to learn at the hearing.

Rep. Gary Sherman (D-Port Wing) is another reliable cosponsor of medical marijuana legislation. Rep. Sherman is one of those rare reps who did not need to be convinced that medical cannabis works.

These open seats create major opportunities for new support for medical cannabis legislation in Wisconsin next session, as well as some robust debates and discussions as we move into the campaign season.