Wisconsin Democrats urge GOP to hold marijuana referendum

Twenty-eight other states have legalized medical marijuana.

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic lawmakers are calling on Republicans to let the public weigh in on whether Wisconsin should join 28 other states that have legalized medical marijuana.

Rep. Chris Taylor and Sen. Jon Erpenbach have introduced a bill that would let Wisconsin residents vote in an advisory referendum on whether marijuana should be legalized for medical use. They’ve introduced another bill that would actually legalize the drug for that purpose.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Monday he is opposed to both bills and it’s not an issue he’s taken seriously.

Regardless, Taylor and Erpenbach tried to drum up support for their bills at a news conference, saying the state is failing sick people by not letting them use marijuana. They say Republican leaders should at least ask the public what it wants.