LRB-3644/1
CMH:jld:md
2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE
October 27, 2009 - Introduced by Senators Erpenbach, Taylor and Miller,
cosponsored by Representatives Pocan, Black, Roys, Hilgenberg, Berceau,
Parisi, Kessler, Zepnick, Danou, Pope-Roberts, Grigsby, Pasch, Toles
and
Sherman. Referred to Committee on Health, Health Insurance, Privacy,
Property Tax Relief, and Revenue.
SB368,2,2 1An Act to renumber subchapter IV of chapter 50 [precedes 50.90]; to renumber
2and amend
59.54 (25), 961.55 (8), 968.19 and 968.20 (1); to amend 20.435 (6)
3(jm), 50.56 (3), 59.54 (25m), 66.0107 (1) (bm), 66.0107 (1) (bp), 146.40 (1) (bo),
4146.81 (1) (L), 146.997 (1) (d) 18., 149.14 (3) (nm), 173.12 (1m), 289.33 (3) (d),
5349.02 (2) (b) 4., 767.41 (5) (am) (intro.), 961.555 (2) (a), 961.56 (1) and 968.20
6(3) (a) and (b); and to create 20.435 (1) (gq), 20.435 (1) (jm), subchapter IV of
7chapter 50 [precedes 50.60], 59.54 (25) (b) 2., 59.54 (25) (b) 3., 146.44, 767.41 (5)
8(d), 767.451 (5m) (d), 961.01 (5m), 961.01 (11v), 961.01 (12v), 961.01 (14c),
9961.01 (14g), 961.01 (17k), 961.01 (19m), 961.01 (20hm), 961.01 (20ht), 961.01
10(20t), 961.01 (21f), 961.01 (21t), 961.436, 961.55 (8) (b), 961.55 (8) (c), 961.55 (8)
11(d), 961.555 (2) (e), 961.555 (2m), 961.5755, 968.072, 968.12 (5), 968.19 (2),
12968.20 (1d) and 968.20 (1j) of the statutes; relating to: medical use of
13marijuana, the regulation of marijuana distribution organizations, requiring

1the exercise of rule-making authority, making appropriations, and providing
2a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current prohibitions and penalties
Current law prohibits the manufacture, distribution, and delivery of marijuana
(also known as tetrahydrocannabinols) and the possession of marijuana with intent
to manufacture, distribute, or deliver it. Penalties for violating these prohibitions
depend on the amount of marijuana involved. If the crime involves 200 grams or less
or four or fewer marijuana plants, the person is guilty of a felony and may be fined
up to $10,000, sentenced to a term of imprisonment of up to three years and six
months, or both. If the crime involves more than 200 grams but not more than 1,000
grams, or more than four plants but not more than 20 plants, the person is guilty of
a felony and may be fined up to $10,000, sentenced to a term of imprisonment of up
to six years, or both. If the crime involves more than 1,000 grams but not more than
2,500 grams, or more than 20 plants but not more than 50 plants, the person is guilty
of a felony and may be fined up to $25,000, sentenced to a term of imprisonment of
up to ten years, or both. If the crime involves more than 2,500 grams but not more
than 10,000 grams, or more than 50 plants but not more than 200 plants, the person
is guilty of a felony and may be fined up to $25,000, sentenced to a term of
imprisonment of up to 12 years and 6 months, or both. If the crime involves more
than 10,000 grams or more than 200 plants, the person is guilty of a felony and may
be fined up to $50,000, sentenced to a term of imprisonment of up to 15 years, or both.
Current law also prohibits a person from possessing or attempting to possess
marijuana. A person who violates this prohibition and who has no prior drug
convictions is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined not more than $1,000,
sentenced to the county jail for up to six months, or both. For a second or subsequent
offense, a person is guilty of a Class I felony.
Current law also contains certain prohibitions regarding drug paraphernalia,
which includes equipment, products, and materials used to produce, distribute, and
use controlled substances, including marijuana. Under current law, a person who
uses drug paraphernalia or who possesses it with the primary intent to produce,
distribute, or use a controlled substance, other than methamphetamine, unlawfully
is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined not more than $500, imprisoned for not
more than 30 days, or both. A person who delivers drug paraphernalia, possesses it
with intent to deliver it, or manufactures it with intent to deliver it, knowing that
it will be primarily used to produce, distribute, or use a controlled substance, other
than methamphetamine, unlawfully may be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned
for not more than 90 days, or both.
Medical necessity defense and immunity from arrest and prosecution
This bill establishes a medical necessity defense to marijuana-related
prosecutions and forfeiture actions. A person having or undergoing a debilitating
medical condition or treatment (qualifying patient) may invoke this defense. A

debilitating medical condition or treatment means any of the following: 1) cancer,
glaucoma, AIDS, a positive HIV test, Crohn's disease, a Hepatitis C virus infection,
Alzheimer's disease, Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis, nail patella syndrome,
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, or the treatment of these
conditions; 2) a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition, or the treatment
of such a disease or condition, that causes wasting away, severe pain, severe nausea,
seizures, or severe and persistent muscle spasms; or 3) any other medical condition
or treatment for a medical condition designated as a debilitating medical condition
or treatment in rules promulgated by the Department of Health Services (DHS).
A qualifying patient may invoke this defense if he or she acquires, possesses,
cultivates, transports, or uses marijuana to alleviate the symptoms or effects of his
or her debilitating medical condition or treatment, but only if no more than the
maximum authorized amount of marijuana (that is, 12 marijuana plants and three
ounces — approximately 85 grams — of marijuana leaves or flowers) is involved. If
a person has obtained a valid registry identification card from DHS or a valid
out-of-state registry identification card (see Registry and distribution centers
for medical users of marijuana
below) or has a written certification from his or
her physician documenting that the person has or is undergoing a debilitating
medical condition or treatment and that the potential benefits to the person of using
marijuana outweigh the health risks involved, the person is presumed to have this
defense if no more than the maximum authorized amount of marijuana is involved.
The bill also prohibits the arrest or prosecution of a qualifying patient who
acquires, possesses, cultivates, transports, or uses marijuana to alleviate the
symptoms or effects of his or her debilitating medical condition or treatment if the
person possesses a valid registry identification card, a valid out-of-state registry
identification card, or a written certification. This prohibition, however, applies only
if no more than the maximum authorized amount of marijuana is involved. In
addition, the bill prohibits the arrest or prosecution of or the imposition of any
penalty on a physician who provides a written certification to a person in good faith.
The defense provided under the bill and the prohibition on arrest and
prosecution contained in the bill do not apply if the person possesses or attempts to
possess marijuana and if: 1) while under the influence of marijuana, the person
drives or operates a motor vehicle; 2) while under the influence of marijuana, the
person operates heavy machinery or engages in any other conduct that endangers
the health or well-being of another person; or 3) the person smokes marijuana on a
bus, at his or her workplace, on school premises, in an adult or juvenile correctional
facility or jail, at a public park, beach, or recreation center, or at a youth center. In
addition, if the putative qualifying patient is under 18 years of age, the defense
provided under the bill and the prohibition on arrest and prosecution contained in
the bill apply only if the person's parent, guardian, or legal custodian agrees to serve
as a primary caregiver for the person. The bill defines a primary caregiver as a
person who is at least 18 years old and who has agreed to be responsible for managing
a qualifying patient's medical use of marijuana.
The defense provided under the bill and the prohibition on arrest and
prosecution contained in the bill apply also to a primary caregiver for any qualifying

patient, if the primary caregiver acquires, possesses, cultivates, transfers, or
transports marijuana to facilitate the qualifying patient's medical use of it. The
defense and the prohibition apply to the primary caregiver only if it is not practicable
for the qualifying patient to acquire, possess, cultivate, or transport marijuana
independently or if the qualifying patient is under 18. The defense and the
prohibition apply also to offenses involving drug paraphernalia if the qualifying
patient uses the drug paraphernalia for the medical use of marijuana.
Registry and distribution centers for medical users of marijuana
The bill requires DHS to establish a registry for medical users of marijuana.
Under the bill, a person claiming to be a qualifying patient may apply for a registry
identification card by submitting to DHS a signed application, accompanied by a
written certification and a registration fee of not more than $150. DHS must verify
the information and issue the person a registry identification card. A qualifying
patient and one of his or her primary caregivers may also jointly apply for a registry
identification card for the primary caregiver. DHS may not disclose that it has issued
to a person a registry identification card, or information from an application for one,
except to a law enforcement agency for the purpose of verifying that a person
possesses a valid registry identification card. A registry identification card is valid
for one year, unless revoked sooner by DHS based on a change of circumstances, and
may be renewed. This bill also requires DHS to promulgate a rule listing any state,
district, commonwealth, territory, or insular possession thereof that allows the
medical use of marijuana by a visiting qualifying patient or allows a person to assist
with a visiting qualifying patient's medical use of marijuana. Under this bill,
documents issued by these entities identifying a person as a qualifying patient,
primary caregiver, or equivalent are treated the same as registry identification cards
issued by DHS.
The bill requires DHS to license and regulate nonprofit corporations, known as
compassion centers, that distribute or deliver marijuana or drug paraphernalia or
possess or manufacture marijuana or drug paraphernalia with the intent to deliver
or distribute to facilitate the medical use of marijuana. This bill prohibits
compassion centers from being located less than 500 feet from a school, prohibits a
compassion center from distributing to a qualifying patient more than a maximum
amount of marijuana, and prohibits an organization from possessing a quantity that
exceeds, by an amount determined by DHS, the total maximum amount of marijuana
of all of the qualifying patients it serves. An applicant for a license must pay an
initial application fee of $250, and a compassion center must pay an annual fee of
$5,000.
Effect on federal law
This bill changes state law regarding marijuana. It does not affect federal law,
which generally prohibits persons from manufacturing, delivering, or possessing
marijuana and applies to both intrastate and interstate violations.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a

report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to
result if the bill is enacted.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB368, s. 1 1Section 1. 20.435 (1) (gq) of the statutes is created to read:
SB368,5,42 20.435 (1) (gq) Medical marijuana registry. All moneys received from
3applicants, as defined in s. 146.44 (1) (a), as fees under s. 146.44 (2) (a) 4., for the
4purposes of the Medical Marijuana Registry Program under s. 146.44.
SB368, s. 2 5Section 2. 20.435 (1) (jm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB368,5,86 20.435 (1) (jm) Licensing and support services for compassion centers. All
7moneys received under s. 50.64 to regulate and license compassion centers under
8subch. IV of ch. 50.
SB368, s. 3 9Section 3. 20.435 (6) (jm) of the statutes, as affected by 2008 Wisconsin Act
1028
, is amended to read:
SB368,6,711 20.435 (6) (jm) Licensing and support services. The amounts in the schedule
12for the purposes specified in ss. 48.685 (2) (am) and (b) 1., (3) (a) and (b), and (5) (a),
1349.45 (47), 50.02 (2), 50.025, 50.031, 50.065 (2) (am) and (b) 1., (3) (a) and (b), and (5),
1450.13, 50.135, 50.36 (2), 50.49 (2) (b), 50.495, 50.52 (2) (a), 50.57, 50.981, and 146.40
15(4r) (b) and (er), and subch. IV V of ch. 50 and to conduct health facilities plan and
16rule development activities, for accrediting nursing homes, convalescent homes, and
17homes for the aged, to conduct capital construction and remodeling plan reviews
18under ss. 50.02 (2) (b) and 50.36 (2), and for the costs of inspecting, licensing or
19certifying, and approving facilities, issuing permits, and providing technical
20assistance, that are not specified under any other paragraph in this subsection. All

1moneys received under ss. 48.685 (8), 49.45 (42) (c), 49.45 (47) (c), 50.02 (2), 50.025,
250.031 (6), 50.065 (8), 50.13, 50.36 (2), 50.49 (2) (b), 50.495, 50.52 (2) (a), 50.57, 50.93
3(1) (c), and 50.981, all moneys received from fees for the costs of inspecting, licensing
4or certifying, and approving facilities, issuing permits, and providing technical
5assistance, that are not specified under any other paragraph in this subsection, and
6all moneys received under s. 50.135 (2) shall be credited to this appropriation
7account.
SB368, s. 4 8Section 4. 50.56 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB368,6,129 50.56 (3) Notwithstanding sub. (2), insofar as a conflict exists between this
10subchapter, or the rules promulgated under this subchapter, and subch. I, II or IV
11V, or the rules promulgated under subch. I, II or IV V, the provisions of this
12subchapter and the rules promulgated under this subchapter control.
SB368, s. 5 13Section 5. Subchapter IV of chapter 50 [precedes 50.60] of the statutes is
14created to read:
SB368,6,1515 CHAPTER 50
SB368,6,1616 SUBCHAPTER IV
SB368,6,1717 Distribution Centers
SB368,6,18 1850.60 Definitions. In this subchapter:
SB368,6,20 19(1) "Compassion center" means a licensed organization that grows and
20distributes marijuana for the medical use of tetrahydrocannabinols.
SB368,6,21 21(2) "Maximum authorized amount" has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (14c).
SB368,6,23 22(3) "Medical use of tetrahydrocannabinols" has the meaning given in s. 961.01
23(14g).
SB368,6,24 24(4) "Qualifying patient" has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (20hm).
SB368,6,25 25(5) "Registry identification card" has the meaning given in s. 146.44 (1) (g).
SB368,7,1
1(6) "Treatment team" has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (20t).
SB368,7,2 2(7) "Usable marijuana" has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (21f).
SB368,7,3 3(8) "Written certification" has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (21t).
SB368,7,5 450.61 Departmental powers and duties. The department shall provide
5licensing, regulation, record keeping, and security for compassion centers.
SB368,7,8 650.62 Licensing. The department shall issue licenses to operate as a
7compassion center and shall decide which and how many applicants for a license
8receive a license based on all of the following:
SB368,7,9 9(1) Convenience to treatment teams and the preferences of treatment teams.
SB368,7,11 10(2) The ability of an applicant to provide to treatment teams a sufficient
11amount of medical marijuana for the medical use of tetrahydrocannabinols.
SB368,7,13 12(3) The experience the applicant has running a nonprofit organization or a
13business.
SB368,7,15 14(4) The preferences of the governing bodies with jurisdiction over the area in
15which the applicants are located.
SB368,7,17 16(5) The ability of the applicant to keep records confidential and maintain a safe
17and secure facility.
SB368,7,18 18(6) The ability of the applicant to abide by the prohibitions under s. 50.63.
SB368,7,20 1950.63 Prohibitions. The department may not issue a license to, and must
20revoke a license of, any organization to which any of the following applies:
SB368,7,22 21(1) The organization does not qualify as a nonprofit organization, as defined
22in s. 108.02 (19).
SB368,7,24 23(2) The organization is located less than 500 feet from a public or private
24elementary or secondary school, including a charter school.
SB368,8,4
1(3) The compassion center distributes to a treatment team an amount of plants
2or ounces of usable marijuana that, in the period of distribution, results in the
3treatment team possessing an amount that exceeds the maximum authorized
4amount.
SB368,8,8 5(4) The compassion center possesses an amount of plants or ounces of usable
6marijuana that exceeds the combined maximum authorized amount for all of the
7treatment teams that use the organization by an amount determined by the
8department by rule to be unacceptable.
SB368,8,9 950.64 Licensing procedure. (1) The application for a license shall:
SB368,8,1010 (a) Be in writing on a form provided by the department.
SB368,8,1111 (b) Include the licensing application fee under sub. (2) (a).
SB368,8,12 12(2) (a) A licensing application fee is $250.
SB368,8,1313 (b) The annual fee for a compassion center is $5,000.
SB368,8,16 14(3) A compassion center license is valid until revoked. Each license shall be
15issued only for the applicant named in the application and may not be transferred
16or assigned.
SB368,8,20 1750.65 Distribution of medical marijuana. (1) A compassion center may
18deliver or distribute tetrahydrocannabinols or drug paraphernalia to a member of a
19treatment team if the compassion center receives a copy of the qualifying patient's
20written certification or registry identification card.
SB368,8,22 21(2) A compassion center may possess or manufacture tetrahydrocannabinols
22or drug paraphernalia with the intent to deliver or distribute under sub. (1).
SB368,8,24 23(3) A compassion center may have 2 locations, one for cultivation and one for
24distribution.
SB368, s. 6
1Section 6. Subchapter IV of chapter 50 [precedes 50.90] of the statutes is
2renumbered subchapter V of chapter 50.
SB368, s. 7 3Section 7. 59.54 (25) of the statutes is renumbered 59.54 (25) (a) and amended
4to read:
SB368,9,145 59.54 (25) (a) The board may enact and enforce an ordinance to prohibit the
6possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana, as defined in s. 961.01 (14), subject to
7par. (b) and the exceptions in s. 961.41 (3g) (intro.), and provide a forfeiture for a
8violation of the ordinance; except that any person who is charged with possession of
9more than 25 grams of marijuana, or who is charged with possession of any amount
10of marijuana following a conviction for possession of marijuana, in this state shall
11not be prosecuted under this subsection
. Any ordinance enacted under this
12paragraph shall provide a person who is prosecuted under it with the defenses that
13the person has under s. 961.436 to prosecutions under s. 961.41 (1) (h), (1m) (h), or
14(3g) (e)
.
SB368,9,16 15(b) 1. Any ordinance enacted under this subsection par. (a) applies in every
16municipality within the county.
SB368, s. 8 17Section 8. 59.54 (25) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB368,9,2018 59.54 (25) (b) 2. A person may not be prosecuted under an ordinance enacted
19under par. (a) if, under s. 968.072 (2) or (4) (b), the person would not be subject to
20prosecution under s. 961.41 (3g) (e).
SB368, s. 9 21Section 9. 59.54 (25) (b) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
SB368,9,2522 59.54 (25) (b) 3. No person who is charged with possession of more than 25
23grams of marijuana, or who is charged with possession of any amount of marijuana
24following a conviction for possession of marijuana, in this state may be prosecuted
25under an ordinance enacted under par. (a).
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