Milwaukee County Board approves marijuana legalization referendum on November election ballot

Don Behm | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Milwaukee County voters will be asked on the Nov. 6 ballot if Wisconsin should legalize recreational marijuana use by adults, as part of a resolution approved Thursday by the County Board.

The same advisory referendum will poll voters on their support of a tax on sales of pot along with state regulation of commercial marijuana distribution.

Eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana for adult recreational use. An additional 14 states have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Supervisor John Weishan Jr. of West Allis, sponsor of the resolution, said the advisory referendum is needed to convince the Legislature to follow the other states and take action on legalizing personal marijuana use and imposing a sales tax on distribution.

"We need to get them moving on these things today," Weishan said.

The County Board approved the measure on a 15-1 vote. Supervisor Patti Logsdon voted against the referendum.

The cost of adding the referendum to municipal ballots in the county is estimated at $15,000.

Rep. Sargent (D) calls for legalizing marijuana at a press conference on July 13, 2017 On July 13, 2017, State Representative Melissa Sargent holds a news conference to announce legislation to legalize marijuana in Wisconsin.

RELATED: Milwaukee County Board panel endorses marijuana legalization question on November ballot

The advisory referendum asks: "Do you favor adults 21 years of age and older to engage in the personal use of marijuana, while also regulating commercial marijuana-related activities, and imposing a tax on the sale of marijuana?"

Several supervisors said they supported giving the public the opportunity to express their opinion on the legalization of marijuana.

Supervisor Anthony Staskunas said he was "frustrated" that a state resident arrested for possession of a small amount of marijuana a second time would face felony charges and be imprisoned under current law.

Supervisor Willie Johnson Jr. said that African-American males in the county are disproportionately arrested and imprisoned for felony second offense marijuana possession.

State lawmakers have not acted on legislative proposals to remove criminal penalties for personal marijuana use despite polls showing public support for the change, according to Weishan.

A Marquette University Law School poll in 2016 found that 59% of registered Wisconsin voters agreed that marijuana "should be fully legalized and regulated like alcohol." Only 39% disagreed.

In other board action Thursday, supervisors approved asking Mitchell International Airport passengers for spare change to help the homeless.

Donation containers will be placed at the entrance to security checkpoints at each of the two passenger concourses at the airport, under the resolution approved by the board.

In 2017, more than 3.45 million passengers flew out of Mitchell. If those travelers donated an average of one penny apiece, the county would collect $34,500.

The county's Housing Division will spend the cash on providing rental assistance and employment support for homeless individuals and families, officials said.

Denver International Airport installed homeless donation containers at security checkpoints in 2013. Travelers there contributed an average of $94,240 a year in the first three years of the program.