Madison NORML

Wisconsin's medical marijuana bill AB 740 lying in state on Library Mall on October 7, 2006.at the 36th annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival. The coffin was created by Jim Miller, who delivered it from New Jersey.

Wisconsin patients and supporters testified at an Assembly Health Committee hearing at the Capitol a little over a year ago on Nov. 22. And while the bill’s death did not occur immediately after the hearing like in Michigan, it still died. Like Wisconsin, the Michigan hearing also featured federal patient Irv Rosenfeld and the two ex-GOP lawmakers who testified here, Don Murphy and Penny Bacchiochi.

With the death of the Michigan bill and the loss of two key sponsors, future efforts are hazy. The possibility of a petition drive to put it on the 2008 ballot is a possibility, an option unavailable here.

The outlook in Wisconsin is hazy too, with the sponsor of last session’s bill not seeking reelection Nov. 7. However, with Democrats controlling the State Senate and greatly narrowing the gap in the Assembly, there exists the possibility of bipartisan cooperation, should the political will exist to actually follow the wishes of the people this time around. The new term begins Wednesday, January 3, 2007.