01/06/2020- The laws have changed in Michigan and Illinois, but recreational marijuana remains illegal in Wisconsin: that reminder from Marinette County Sheriff Jerry Sauve who says his department has seen an uptick in the use and trafficking of pot through the area over the past year. While the offenses are sometimes unintentional with users crossing the border not understanding Wisconsin’s legal position on pot, Sauve says more often than not, these people know exactly what they’re doing and officers aren’t turning a blind eye to it.
One issue in particular that law enforcement is dealing with is an increase in drugged driving. Sauve says that’s putting additional strain on his department and others in the county and it’s one of the biggest reasons he feels Wisconsin should maintain the existing ban on recreational marijuana.
11 US states have now legalized recreational marijuana and while some Wisconsin lawmakers are proponents of doing the same in the Badger state, any such proposals aren’t like to get far in the current Republican-controlled legislature.