MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – State Representative Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) hosted a press conference at the capitol on Thursday to announce a legislation to legalize marijuana in Wisconsin.

“This bill is so much more than legalizing marijuana – it’s about legalizing opportunity and prosperity,” said Rep. Melissa Sargent.

According to the press release, the bill includes several changes including providing employment and benefit protections for marijuana users, requiring insurance coverage for medical marijuana for terminal illnesses and incorporating marijuana into current alcohol and tobacco educational curricula in schools. The bill also treats marijuana as an agricultural product, which was also not including in previous sessions.

“Business as usual is simply not cutting it. We need to start thinking about new, innovative ways to jumpstart our economy. Wisconsin has a billion-dollar budget deficit, Republicans have no real ideas for fixing our transportation fund and Scott Walker still hasn’t created the 250,000 jobs he promised six years ago, Sargent explained.

The proposal marks the third time a marijuana legalization bill has been introduced in the Wisconsin State Legislature, according to the release.

Copyright 2017: WMTV