Wisconsin governor says he favors legalization but doesn't want to rush it

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers this week went on record saying he favors legalizing marijuana in the state "if done correctly," but his plan faces obstacles from Republican leaders. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has said he's open to legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, but Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has said he doesn't support it."I still don't believe the support's there within the Senate caucus to move in that direction, but I know the debate is going on nationwide," Fitzgerald said on Tuesday when asked about the issue.Wisconsin is one of 17 states that doesn't have some form of marijuana legalization. Evers said he would like take the "first step" toward legalizing marijuana by including it in his first state budget proposal.Speaker Pro Tem Tyler August of Lake Geneva said Thursday that the medical marijuana debate is such a big issue it should be addressed on its own. "It's a conversation that I'm not opposed to having, but we need to have that separate of the state budget," he said. Still, there remains a lot of public support surrounding the issue. In the November election, voters in 16 counties supported non-binding referendums calling for legalization of medical marijuana. A Marquette University Law School poll in August found 61 percent support for full legalization, with 36 percent opposed.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers this week went on record saying he favors legalizing marijuana in the state "if done correctly," but his plan faces obstacles from Republican leaders.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has said he's open to legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, but Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has said he doesn't support it.

"I still don't believe the support's there within the Senate caucus to move in that direction, but I know the debate is going on nationwide," Fitzgerald said on Tuesday when asked about the issue.

Wisconsin is one of 17 states that doesn't have some form of marijuana legalization. Evers said he would like take the "first step" toward legalizing marijuana by including it in his first state budget proposal.

Speaker Pro Tem Tyler August of Lake Geneva said Thursday that the medical marijuana debate is such a big issue it should be addressed on its own.

"It's a conversation that I'm not opposed to having, but we need to have that separate of the state budget," he said.

Still, there remains a lot of public support surrounding the issue. In the November election, voters in 16 counties supported non-binding referendums calling for legalization of medical marijuana. A Marquette University Law School poll in August found 61 percent support for full legalization, with 36 percent opposed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.