State Rep. Melissa Sargent, D-Madison, wants to legalize all use of marijuana, but her bill can't get a hearing.

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COULD HELP OPEN THE DOOR TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND MORE. 12 NEWS KENT WAINSCOTT EXPLAINS. KENT: DR. JAMES STOLL WANTS ANSWERS. THE LOCAL SURGEON SAYS HIS TWO SONS, BOTH SUFFERING FROM DEBILITATING CROHN’S DISEASE, USED THC, OR MARIJUANA, TO TREAT THEIR PAIN, WHILE LIVING IN COLOARDO. AND HE WONDERS WHY WISCONSIN DOCTORS CAN’T OFFER THE SAME TO THEIR PATIENTS. WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU THINK THE LAWMAKERS ARE NOT GETTING? >> I THINK THE LAWMAKERS ARE NOT BELIEVING THAT ORGANIZED MEDICINE DOES NOT HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS. AND THAT PEOPLE, WHEN THEY ARE FACED WITH DESPERATION, DO FIND SOLUTIONS. KENT: BUT HE’S NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT LEGALIZATION IN WISCONSIN. >> THE ONLY WAY THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN IS IF THE LEADERSHIP IN THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE IS GONE. KENT: SOME IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT EXACT BENEFITS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA. >> I AM NOT SURE I WOULD CLASSIFY IT AS A MEDICINE. >> THE ONLY PLACE WE ARE HAVING THIS DEBATE IS IN THE STATE CAPITAL. KENT: STATE REP MELISSA SARGENT WANTS TO LEGALIZE ALL USE OF MARIJUANA, BUT HER BILL CAN’T GET A HEARING. >> THE MESSAGE I CONTINUE TO HEAR IS IT IS NOT A PRIORITY OF LEADERSHIP. KENT: THE DEPARTURE OF SCOTT FITZGERALD COULD MAKE LEGALIZATION MORE LIKELY. >> I FULLY BELIEVE IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, IT WILL BE WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. TOYA: IS THERE A CHANCE THAT THE BILL WILL GET A HEARING ANYTIME KENT: IT IS UNLIKELY THERE WILL BE ONE THIS SESSION. I REACHED OUT TO THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN MADISON. SENATOR FITZGERALD’S STAFF DID NOT GET BACK TO US. ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT TODAY’S FORUM TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUT WAS ILL AND UNABLE TO ATTEND. HE’S BEEN OPEN IN THE PAST TO CONSIDERING LEGALIZATI

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Advertisement Lawmaker hopes Wisconsin could be close to legalizing marijuana State Rep. Melissa Sargent, D-Madison, wants to legalize all use of marijuana, but her bill can't get a hearing. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

One state lawmaker is introducing a new measure to legalize marijuana in Wisconsin.State Rep. Melissa Sargent, D-Madison, wants to legalize all use of marijuana, but her bill can't get a hearing.She said one man is standing in the way -- Republican Senate leader Scott Fitzgerald."The message that I continue to hear from folks is, it's not a priority of leadership," Sargent said.She believes a change in leadership in Madison could help open the door to medical marijuana and more."Why are we not talking about this?" Dr. James Stoll asked Monday during a hearing at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa.He wants answers.The surgeon said his two sons, both suffering from debilitating Crohn's disease, used THC, or marijuana to treat their pain, while living in Colorado.He wonders why Wisconsin doctors can't offer the same to their patients."I think the lawmakers are not believing that organized medicine does not have all the answers. And that people, when they are faced with desperation, do find solutions," Stoll said.But he said he remains optimistic."The only way that that will happen is if the leadership in the current legislature is gone," Stoll said.Some in the medical community have concerns about the exact benefits of medical marijuana."I'm not sure I would classify it as a medicine," said Cecilia Hillard of the Medical College of Wisconsin.Still, public support for legalization is overwhelming."The only place we're having this debate is in the Capitol building in Madison," Sargent said.Sargent was asked whether the possible departure from the state Senate of Fitzgerald, who is currently running for Congress, could make legalization more likely.“Certainly I would hope that would be the case,” she said. “I fully believe that it's not a matter of 'if' this is going to happen in Wisconsin. It's a matter of 'when' it's going to happen.'"It's still unlikely Sargent's bill will receive a hearing this session.Fitzgerald's staff did not respond to requests for comment about the proposition.Assembly Speaker Robin Vos was supposed to be at Monday’s forum to talk about the future of medical marijuana but was ill and unable to attend.He's been open in the past to considering legalization of medical marijuana.A spokesperson said his views on that have not changed.