APPLETON - The city will support state efforts to legalize medical marijuana.

The Common Council voted unanimously Wednesday to support a resolution from the Board of Health urging the state to take steps toward legalizing cannabis for medicinal purposes.

"It basically is to have a voice to say (marijuana is) not the demon that you think, especially if you're using it for medical use," Alderwoman Patti Coenen told the council.

The resolution includes the results of the 16-county advisory referendums on Nov. 6 and highlights potential health benefits the drug can provide.

It also asks the state to remove marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, which is considered to have a high potential for abuse and cannot be accepted as medical treatment. Other Schedule 1 drugs include heroin and psychedelic drugs.

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Outagamie County has also been formulating a report weighing the pros and cons of legalizing medical marijuana.

County officials are considering a referendum in the spring, but it is unlikely based on the timeline of the report heading to the County Board for a vote.

Katrin Patience, vice chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee, who is authoring the report, said she wants to do more research before it is brought back to the Health and Human Services in January.

A referendum would need to be prepared 72 days before the April 2 election.

In the 16 counties that held referendums on marijuana use in November, all came down heavily in favor of legalizing cannabis in some form.

Advocates for cannabis legalization are pushing to meet with Gov.-Elect Tony Evers and legislative leaders to review referendum results and push for state action.

Evers has previously said he's in favor of legalizing medical marijuana in Wisconsin.

Currently, 31 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized marijuana use for medicinal purposes.