Wisconsin Senate Considers Medical Cannabis Legalization Amid Kentucky Program Expansion

Wisconsin is advancing legislation to legalize medical cannabis with Senate Bill 534, sponsored by Republican Senators Patrick Testin and Mary Felzkowski, aiming to establish the state's first medicinal cannabis program. The bill, reflecting the support of 86% of Wisconsin residents, seeks to provide legal access to cannabis for patients with chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, cancer, and other conditions, addressing the current lack of legal options within the state. Advocates, including Testin who shared a personal story of his grandfather benefiting from medical cannabis decades ago, testified in support of the bill during a Senate Health Committee hearing, emphasizing cannabis as a safer alternative to opioids. The Wisconsin Wellness Coalition, formed in partnership with the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, is actively campaigning to raise awareness and support for the bill. Meanwhile, Kentucky has begun rolling out its medical cannabis program after legislation passed in 2023, with dispensaries being established and practitioners certifying patients across many counties, though concerns about product safety, especially cannabis gummies appealing to children, were raised by lawmakers. Kentucky's program highlights both the progress and challenges states face in implementing medical cannabis programs, contrasting with Wisconsin's efforts to initiate such a program.