BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Brown County’s Board of Supervisors have agreed to ask voters in November whether medical marijuana should be legal.
It will be on the ballot as an advisory referendum, which is basically a formal public opinion poll and cannot change state law.
However, the board decided to not ask voters about recreational marijuana legalization.
For more than three hours, a predominately pro-marijuana crowd took turns telling Brown County supervisors why voters should be asked about the drug’s legalization.
“The people, as you can see here tonight, would really like to have their voices heard on this matter,” said Wendy Coriell of Green Bay.
The board was tasked with deciding whether to ask voters the two marijuana-related questions during November’s election: one on medical marijuana and one on full legalization.
“There is overwhelming data nationwide that shows 90 percent of the kids who have opioid addictions, especially in the teenagers, started with pot, with marijuana, as a gateway drug,” said Patricia McDougall, a doctor living in Hobart who said she was speaking on behalf of other medical professionals in the area.
“I don’t like feeling like a criminal when I have to go and try to find somebody who I can buy from,” said Michele Neary of Green Bay. “I’m 59 years old, I shouldn’t have to beg somebody to give my husband the medication he needs.”
While public speakers were largely in support of the referendum, a handful of people spoke in opposition.
Marian Krumberger, the chair of the Brown County Republican Party, accused supporters of having a political motivation in asking for the cannabis questions.
“Keep in mind, November elections are partisan elections. You are a nonpartisan body and when you place something in a partisan election, it does have an effect.”
When county supervisors took their turns speaking, one of the two board members who proposed the referendum idea shared his personal legal marijuana experience.
“What I did find was I didn’t jump out of my window like some after-school special,” said Erik Hoyer.
“I didn’t lose my job, I didn’t miss a day of work, I didn’t leave my wife and join Phish on the road. I didn’t do any of that.”
Some board members argued the issue shouldn’t be taken up at a county level, because only state lawmakers can vote to legalize marijuana.
“My constituents, quite a few of them, have gone out of their way to tell me that they do not want me to undertake this,” said Joan Brusky, a Brown County Supervisor.
“They want me to attend to county business.”
In the end, the Board voted 16-10 to pass the medical marijuana referendum. The recreational marijuana referendum failed, 15-11.
