Wisconsin Governor, Tony Evers, announced at a press conference yesterday his plan to introduce medical marijuana and decriminalization proposals in the state budget for 2019. According to a report from the Wisconsin State Journal, Evers’ administration anticipates “conservatively” $2.3 million in tax revenue from medical sales. Yet, unlike in neighboring states such as Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan –which have all legalized cannabis to some capacity– the Evers proposal will likely draw opposition from the more conservative reaches of Lake Mendota’s shore.

However, before state Republicans in America’s Dairyland speak too loudly, let’s take a sober look at the consequences of Wisconsin foregoing cannabis legalization (medical or adult-use).

Wisconsin Risks Being Left Behind by the Plant-Touching Industry

As Minnesota and Illinois begin ramping up their respective MMJ industries and as Michigan’s adult-use market gets rolling, Wisconsin risks being left in the dust by its progressive neighbors. “There’s a clear and obvious risk for states that do not take the opportunity to legalize early: being left behind,” our own Aaron Lachant explains. “While the impact is less severe in massive states out West, where the sheer geography makes it trickier for a consumer to hop over into another state to buy some pot; states out east that have dragged their feet, such as New York and New Jersey, are now playing catch up to states such as Massachusetts or Vermont.”

Call it the “sandwich effect” if you will, but something similar is happening in the Upper Midwest. Sandwiched by the sticky-icky, Green Rush states of Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois, Wisconsin languishes as in-state and out-of-state investors are drawing papers in offices across the region. For Evers and Wisconsin policymakers to not even humor legalization of medical cannabis or … gasp! adult-use … would be untenable and arguably outright negligent. Furthermore, it’d be shortsighted to ignore the financial windfall of additional tax revenues (to say nothing of job creation) in a state that, like much of the Midwest, has seen a downturn in jobs, depressed housing markets, and, even to an extent in places like Madison and Milwaukee, some degree of brain drain on young professionals.

Now, to be clear, all of the adults in the room understand that cannabis is not a panacea or silver bullet to a state’s every woe. Also, Madison and Milwaukee, in addition to smaller cities such as Eau Claire, LaCrosse, and more, have tremendous existing companies. But these thriving pockets of tech, healthcare, manufacturing in Wisconsin, with their communities of bright and capable workers, would be a ripe place for the medical cannabis industry, and Evers gets this. His plan calls for all cannabis to of course be grown and rendered in state and why not in a state rich with farming and manufacturing tradition?

Wisconsinites Will Seek Medical Cannabis Whether in Their State or Elsewhere

Beyond that, Evers, a cancer survivor, understands the human face of physical suffering more than most of us, and made that aspect of his proposal clear yesterday in his press conference. Medical cannabis is a humane, safe and effective option for so many suffering from so many maladies. Additionally, Wisconsin has suffered greatly from the opioid crisis, much like other states in the Heartland. Evers seemingly recognizes this as well. For so many Wisconsinites to suffer from health matters that could be alleviated by medical cannabis that’s still illegal in their state, but legal a stone’s throw away in Illinois or Minnesota? Evers knows to not lose tax revenue to his regional rivals and maybe Wisconsin Republicans should take note.