Wisconsin Republicans Strip Cannabis Legalization From Governor’s Budget, Dimming Hopes for Reform in 2025

Wisconsin remains one of the few states in the U.S. without a legal medical cannabis program, and the path toward change grew even murkier on May 8, 2025. Republican lawmakers in the state’s powerful Joint Finance Committee rejected over 600 budget proposals from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers—including measures to legalize cannabis and empower voters through citizen-initiated ballot referendums.

This sweeping move not only halts momentum on cannabis legalization but also underscores the partisan divide shaping Wisconsin’s legislative process. While surrounding states push forward with adult-use cannabis markets, Wisconsin continues to lag behind, constrained by legislative gridlock and political resistance.

Cannabis Legalization and Citizen-Initiated Ballot Measures Rejected by GOP Lawmakers

Gov. Evers’ 2025-2027 biennial budget package included major reforms designed to align Wisconsin with regional trends and national public opinion on cannabis use. Central among them was a proposal to legalize and regulate both adult-use and medical marijuana.

The plan would have allowed adults 21 and older to purchase cannabis similarly to alcohol. It also included a new framework for medical cannabis access, tax revenues, and industry regulation. Projections released earlier this year suggested this legalization effort could generate over $58 million in state revenue by FY 2026-2027, with further growth anticipated in the following years.

Additionally, Evers sought to give citizens more direct control over policy by introducing a ballot initiative process. This would have allowed Wisconsinites to circulate petitions and vote on binding referenda, a right currently absent in the state. The proposal would have paved the way for direct public input on contentious issues including cannabis, abortion, redistricting, and gun control.

However, Republican lawmakers removed both provisions from the budget, signaling a clear refusal to relinquish legislative control or expand voter-driven reform channels.

Wisconsin Remains an Outlier as Neighboring States Embrace Legal Cannabis

While lawmakers in Madison debate whether cannabis policy should move forward, neighboring states continue to expand their legal cannabis frameworks. Residents in border states like Michigan and Illinois already have full access to adult-use cannabis dispensaries. Minnesota is also poised to launch its recreational market later this year, giving Wisconsinites yet another nearby destination to legally purchase cannabis.

This regional discrepancy has created economic and policy pressure for Wisconsin, as millions of dollars in potential revenue and job creation are effectively exported across state lines.

Despite these realities, Wisconsin is among only eight U.S. states without legal access to medical marijuana—further isolating it from mainstream public health practices and national cannabis policy.

Overwhelming Public Support for Cannabis Reform Fails to Sway Legislative Action

Cannabis legalization enjoys broad support among Wisconsin voters. A February 2024 poll from Marquette Law School found that 63% of registered voters support adult-use legalization, while an overwhelming 86% favor medical cannabis.

Despite these numbers, the Legislature’s current makeup stifles progress. Wisconsin’s government is divided: Democrats control the governorship, while Republicans hold majorities in both the state Assembly and Senate. This split has repeatedly thwarted bipartisan cooperation, especially on social and public health issues like cannabis.

For years, Gov. Evers has pushed cannabis reform, including consistent calls for medical legalization as a stepping stone to broader access. Yet the GOP-dominated Legislature has either shelved or outright rejected his proposals, as seen again this week.

Cannabis Reform Becomes a Casualty of Larger Partisan Budget Showdown

Cannabis legalization is just one of many casualties in the budget battle between Evers and Republican lawmakers. In total, the Joint Finance Committee removed more than 600 of the governor’s proposals during their May 8 session. These cuts included plans aimed at lowering healthcare and childcare costs, providing tax relief to the middle class, and increasing funding for education, farmers, and veterans.

The scale of the budget gutting reveals deeper ideological divides, particularly over how the state should allocate resources and respond to evolving social demands. While Evers advocates progressive reforms, the GOP’s approach emphasizes fiscal restraint and conservative social policy.

In this environment, cannabis legalization is more than a policy issue—it has become a political flashpoint symbolizing broader debates over governance, representation, and modernization.

Failed Republican Unity on Cannabis Legislation in 2024 Still Haunts 2025 Efforts

Even within Republican ranks, there is no consensus on cannabis reform. In 2024, GOP lawmakers floated several competing medical marijuana bills. Some included proposals for state-run dispensaries, while others promoted private-sector involvement. Disagreements between Assembly Speaker Rob Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu stalled progress and ultimately killed the bills.

Gov. Evers expressed willingness at the time to support limited medical reforms if Republicans could agree among themselves. But no legislative unity emerged, and the session closed with no action.

In the months since, different leaders have voiced mixed expectations for cannabis policy in 2025. Senate President Mary Felzkowski warned that Speaker Vos remained a major obstacle to reform, while Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August remained cautiously optimistic.

Yet as of May, no viable cannabis legislation has materialized, and GOP lawmakers have now solidified their opposition by striking legalization from the governor’s budget altogether.

Lost Opportunities as Wisconsin Falls Further Behind in Cannabis Policy and Revenue Potential

The continued delay in cannabis legalization not only frustrates reform advocates—it comes at a significant economic cost. States with legal cannabis have created thousands of jobs, collected billions in tax revenue, and reduced strain on judicial systems by removing cannabis-related offenses from dockets.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, forgoes these benefits. Residents continue to travel across borders to access cannabis, leaving tax dollars and economic activity in neighboring states. Entrepreneurs and patients eager to see a regulated market are left waiting indefinitely.

Without legislative action or a citizen-driven initiative process, there is no clear path forward. This leaves Wisconsin uniquely handcuffed, unable to capitalize on a rapidly evolving national and regional industry.

A Legislative Stalemate with No End in Sight for Cannabis Reform

The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee’s decision to remove cannabis legalization from the 2025-2027 budget reaffirms a harsh political reality: meaningful cannabis reform is unlikely to occur in Wisconsin under the current legislative structure.

Even with strong public support, regional pressure, and economic incentives, lawmakers continue to block reform efforts, keeping the state an outlier in a growing national movement.

Without changes to legislative control or the introduction of citizen-driven ballot initiatives, Wisconsin will remain on the sidelines while other states advance into the future of cannabis policy.