Medical Marijuana Announcement
This past Monday, the Assembly GOP held press conferences all across the state announcing our plan to introduce medical cannabis care. I had the honor to lead one of these press conferences and to speak directly on the legislation that was introduced Monday (1/8).
The legislation in question creates an innovative medical cannabis program in Wisconsin that ensures patient access to treatment while safely and effectively regulating the distribution of medicinal cannabis products. It will allow medical cannabis concentrates, oils, tinctures, edibles, pills, topical forms, gels, creams, vapors, patches, liquids, or forms administered by a nebulizer, but not smokeable cannabis.
This legislation is a compromise on cannabis. It empowers patients to have more choice, and although it isn’t exactly how I would write it if I were the sole decision-maker, sick people should and will have access to treatment, and the state shouldn’t and won’t profit from them through taxation.
If you’re interested in learning more details regarding this legislation, press here to hear me speak at the press conference.
Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities
Yesterday, the Energy and Utilities held a public hearing on three bills.
AB 878 aligns with federal penalties for utilities who fail to maintain gas production, transmission, and distribution facilities in a reasonably adequate and safe manner.
AB 846 makes changes to statute that will enable the private sector to construct and sell energy for electric vehicle charging throughout Wisconsin.
AB 847 allows the Department of Transportation to establish and administer a program to provide funding for electric vehicle infrastructure projects.
During exec, I voted against AB 847 because I do not think taxpayers should have to fund this program, just like they shouldn’t have to pay for gas pumps. Let’s just let the free market work without taxpayer subsidies.
Assembly Committee on Agriculture
Yesterday, I testified on AB 555, which is a piece of legislation I worked closely on with Rep. Moses. This legislation mandates that any meat product developed through the culturing or reproduction of animal proteins or tissues outside a living animal’s body be labeled explicitly as “Lab-Grown Meat.”
What this bill boils down to is consumer choice. People have the right to know what they are eating and where it came from. This truth-in-labeling bill will protect consumers by making them aware of whether the meat they buy is lab-grown or not.
Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government
Today, I testified in the Senate on a piece of legislation I wrote that was originally brought to my attention by a constituent. The concern was that in certain areas, local zoning ordinances were used to explicitly ban home vegetable gardens or to put up unreasonable rules governing what homeowners may grow and where they can plant their food. SB 376, the bill I testified on, protects the right of Wisconsin homeowners to grow their own food on their own property, free from unreasonable restrictions.
I believe that the government should encourage and protect the right for individuals to grow food on their own private properties. I also spoke with the League of Municipalities, and while drafting this bill, we did leave room to allow for certain types of reasonable restrictions to be put in place if necessary.
Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities
Today, I testified in committee on AB 610. This legislation ensures that our college students have the same religious, medical, and personal exemptions that are currently available to our K–12 students.
In-District Events
Tuesday, January 30th, will be the Mishicot Lions Chili Dinner at Mishicot High School from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
