Friend –

It's 4/20, and the ACLU of Wisconsin needs your help demanding that our lawmakers end the unjust, outdated, and racially discriminatory criminalization of marijuana.

Despite overwhelming public support for legalization across the political spectrum, Wisconsin remains one of the few states clinging to prohibition – at a high cost to our communities.

This is about race. About money. About democracy.

While surrounding states like Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota reap the benefits of legalization – generating millions in tax revenue and reducing unnecessary arrests – Wisconsin clings to failed policies. In 2022 alone, 13,400 people were arrested in Wisconsin for cannabis offenses, mostly for simple possession. Black Wisconsinites bore the brunt of this injustice, being 5.29 times more likely than white people to be arrested – despite similar usage rates.

Instead of bringing in $165.8 million in annual tax revenue (as projected under Governor Evers' proposal), Wisconsin is handing millions to neighboring states. In 2022, Wisconsin residents spent $121 million on weed in Illinois, contributing an estimated $36 million to Illinois' tax base – funds that could have gone to Wisconsin schools, roads, and healthcare.

Worse, a single person is holding up progress. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has refused to allow a public hearing on marijuana legalization – silencing the majority of voters and blocking meaningful debate in the legislature. No single person has the right to stand between us and the progress we deserve. Now is the time to act. Tell your local legislators and Speaker Robin Vos: Stop ignoring Wisconsin voters. End the criminalization of marijuana. Hold a public hearing. Legalize it.

Let's build a fairer, smarter, and more just future together.

For more, you can read our report: The State of Cannabis in Wisconsin.

Find ways to get involved on our website.

ACLU of Wisconsin