An Iraq War veteran, Acheson said he suffered a spinal injury through his service. He said he initially was prescribed painkillers and other pills that made him a "zombie" and nearly forced him to drop out of college.

Acheson said he later tried medical marijuana. It relieved his pain and enabled him to stop taking pills while living his daily life, he said — but not without triggering new concerns.

"It's put me in this really gray area where every day I step out of my door, I have have to worry about being convicted of a crime," Acheson said. "There's way too many of our fellow veterans dying of over-prescription and suicide.

Assembly Republicans previously have signaled openness to medical marijuana. Vos reiterated in his statement today that he's "open to medical marijuana when it’s prescribed by a doctor, but it has to be done in a targeted way without allowing recreational use.”

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald previously said he opposes medical marijuana and isn't sure how many GOP senators favor it.

Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, tweeted shortly after Evers' press conference: "Pretty sad the former head of our K-12 schools is now pushing the legalization of pot. Who is watching out for kids?"