Wisconsin Lawmakers Signal Push To Legalize Adult-Use Marijuana Next Session

Democratic Wins Shift The Landscape

Leading Wisconsin lawmakers have announced their intentions to advance legislation next session legalizing the adult use marijuana market. The announcement follows the midterm election, in which Democrats flipped both the Senate and the Assembly.

In recent days, both Governor-elect David Crowley and Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, who is poised to become speaker next year, have publicly expressed support for enacting legalization.

Rep. Neubauer said, “We intend to listen to the voters of Wisconsin and the people of our state and legalize marijuana in the coming year to two years.”

Senator Mark Spreitzer, who serves as chair of the Democratic Caucus, said he is “very optimistic about the possibility of marijuana being legalized” under the legislature’s new Democratic majority. “I think we’re going to be able to get it done,” Spreitzer added.

However, in recent years, legislative efforts to reform the state’s marijuana laws had been stonewalled by Republican leadership.

Public Support And Enforcement Costs

According to the results of a 2025 Marquette University poll, 67 percent of Wisconsin voters think that “the use of marijuana should be made legal.”

Wisconsin is among the nation’s leaders in marijuana possession arrests. Last year, police in Wisconsin made nearly 11,500 marijuana possession arrests, the third highest total of any state in the nation.

Wisconsin also remains one of the few states lacking significant medical cannabis access or legal protections.

NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said, “Wisconsin is among the nation’s leaders in marijuana possession arrests and it is remains one of the few states lacking significant medical cannabis access or legal protections. It’s time for the Badger State to shed these dubious distinctions and enact cannabis policies grounded in health, safety, compassion, and that align with voters’ sentiments. Patients and those who consume cannabis responsibly have waited long enough.”