LRB-0107/1
CMH:amn
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
April 11, 2024 - Introduced by Representatives Stubbs, J. Anderson, Emerson,
Ohnstad, Shankland, Sinicki and Subeck, cosponsored by Senators Larson,
L. Johnson, Smith and Hesselbein. Referred to Committee on Criminal
Justice and Public Safety.
AB1207,1,5 1An Act to renumber 961.41 (1q); to renumber and amend 961.41 (1) (h) 1.;
2to amend 59.54 (25) (a) (intro.), 66.0107 (1) (bm), 961.41 (1m) (h) 1., 961.41 (1r),
3961.41 (3g) (e) and 961.46; to repeal and recreate 961.41 (1q) (title); and to
4create
961.41 (1) (h) 1g., 961.41 (1q) (b) and (c) and 973.016 of the statutes;
5relating to: decriminalizing 28 grams or less of marijuana.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill decriminalizes 28 grams or less of marijuana. Current law prohibits
a person from possessing or attempting to possess; possessing with the intent to
manufacture, distribute, or deliver; and manufacturing, distributing, or delivering
marijuana. The penalties vary based on the amount of marijuana or plants involved
or the number of previous controlled-substance convictions the person has, as
follows:
1. A person who possesses marijuana is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be
fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both, for
a first conviction and is guilty of a Class I felony and may be fined not more than
$10,000 or imprisoned for not more than three years and six months, or both, for a
repeat conviction.
2. A person who manufactures, distributes, or delivers marijuana, or possesses
marijuana with the intent to manufacture, distribute, or deliver it, is guilty of a Class
I felony if the amount involves not more than 200 grams or not more than four plants;
a Class H felony if the amount involves more than 200 grams but not more than 1,000

grams or more than four plants but not more than 20 plants; a Class G felony if the
amount involves more than 1,000 grams but not more than 2,500 grams or more than
20 plants but not more than 50 plants; a Class F felony if the amount involves more
than 2,500 grams but not more than 10,000 grams or more than 50 plants but not
more than 200 plants; or a Class E felony if the amount involves more than 10,000
grams or more than 200 plants.
This bill eliminates 1) the penalty for possession of marijuana if the amount of
marijuana involved is not more than 28 grams; and 2) the penalty for manufacturing,
distributing, or delivering, or for possessing with the intent to manufacture,
distribute, or deliver, if the amount of marijuana involved is not more than 28 grams
or the number of plants involved is not more than two. The bill, however, retains the
current law penalty for distributing or delivering any amount of marijuana to a
minor who is no more than 17 years of age by a person who is at least three years older
than the minor.
Current law also allows local governments to enact ordinances prohibiting the
possession of marijuana. The bill limits local governments to enacting ordinances
prohibiting the possession of only more than 28 grams of marijuana.
Current law requires that, when determining the weight of controlled
substances, the weight includes the weight of the controlled substance together with
any compound, mixture, or other substance mixed or combined with the controlled
substance. Under the bill, when determining the amount of tetrahydrocannabinols,
only the weight of the marijuana may be considered.
The bill also prohibits establishing probable cause that a person is violating the
prohibition against possessing more than 28 grams of marijuana by an odor of
marijuana or by the possession of not more than 28 grams of marijuana. Finally, the
bill creates a process for expunging or dismissing convictions involving less than 28
grams of marijuana that occurred before this bill takes effect.
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:
AB1207,1 1Section 1. 59.54 (25) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1207,3,42 59.54 (25) (a) (intro.) The board may enact and enforce an ordinance to prohibit
3the possession of more than 28 grams of marijuana, as defined in s. 961.01 (14),
4subject to the exceptions in s. 961.41 (3g) (intro.), and provide a forfeiture for a
5violation of the ordinance; except that if a complaint is issued regarding an allegation
6of
alleging possession of more than 25 28 grams of marijuana, or possession of any

1amount
of marijuana following a conviction in this state for possession of more than
228 grams of
marijuana, the subject of the complaint may not be prosecuted under this
3subsection for the same action that is the subject of the complaint unless all of the
4following occur:
AB1207,2 5Section 2. 66.0107 (1) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1207,3,146 66.0107 (1) (bm) Enact and enforce an ordinance to prohibit the possession of
7more than 28 grams of marijuana, as defined in s. 961.01 (14), subject to the
8exceptions in s. 961.41 (3g) (intro.), and provide a forfeiture for a violation of the
9ordinance; except that if a complaint is issued regarding an allegation of alleging
10possession of more than 25 28 grams of marijuana, or possession of any amount of
11marijuana following a conviction in this state for possession of more than 28 grams
12of
marijuana, the subject of the complaint may not be prosecuted under this
13paragraph for the same action that is the subject of the complaint unless the charges
14are dismissed or the district attorney declines to prosecute the case.
AB1207,3 15Section 3. 961.41 (1) (h) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 961.41 (1) (h) 1r. and
16amended to read:
AB1207,3,1917 961.41 (1) (h) 1r. Two hundred More than 28 grams but not more than 200
18grams or less, or more than 2 but not more than 4 or fewer plants containing
19tetrahydrocannabinols, the person is guilty of a Class I felony.
AB1207,4 20Section 4. 961.41 (1) (h) 1g. of the statutes is created to read:
AB1207,3,2421 961.41 (1) (h) 1g. Twenty-eight grams or less, or 2 or fewer plants containing
22tetrahydrocannabinols, the person is guilty of a Class I felony if the person is at least
2317 years of age and distributes or delivers to a person who is no more than 17 years
24of age and who is at least 3 years younger than the person distributing or delivering.
AB1207,5 25Section 5. 961.41 (1m) (h) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1207,4,3
1961.41 (1m) (h) 1. Two hundred More than 28 grams but not more than 200
2grams or less, or more than 2 but not more than 4 or fewer plants containing
3tetrahydrocannabinols, the person is guilty of a Class I felony.
AB1207,6 4Section 6. 961.41 (1q) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
AB1207,4,55 961.41 (1q) (title) Tetrahydrocannabinols penalty and probable cause.
AB1207,7 6Section 7. 961.41 (1q) of the statutes is renumbered 961.41 (1q) (a).
AB1207,8 7Section 8. 961.41 (1q) (b) and (c) of the statutes are created to read:
AB1207,4,98 961.41 (1q) (b) The following are not sufficient to establish probable cause that
9a violation of sub. (1) (h) has occurred:
AB1207,4,1010 1. Odor of marijuana.
AB1207,4,1111 2. The possession of not more than 28 grams of marijuana.
AB1207,4,1412 (c) No individual on parole, probation, extended supervision, supervised
13release, or any other release may have the release revoked for possessing not more
14than 28 grams of marijuana.
AB1207,9 15Section 9. 961.41 (1r) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1207,5,216 961.41 (1r) Determining weight of substance. In determining amounts under
17s. 961.49 (2) (b), 1999 stats., and subs. (1) and (1m), an amount includes the weight
18of cocaine, cocaine base, fentanyl, a fentanyl analog, heroin, phencyclidine, lysergic
19acid diethylamide, psilocin, psilocybin, amphetamine, methamphetamine,
20tetrahydrocannabinols, synthetic cannabinoids, or substituted cathinones, or any
21controlled substance analog of any of these substances together with any compound,
22mixture, diluent, plant material or other substance mixed or combined with the
23controlled substance or controlled substance analog. In addition, in determining
24amounts under subs. (1) (h) and, (1m) (h), and (3g) (e), the amount of

1tetrahydrocannabinols means anything included under s. 961.14 (4) (t) and includes
2the weight of any only marijuana.
AB1207,10 3Section 10. 961.41 (3g) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1207,5,144 961.41 (3g) (e) Tetrahydrocannabinols. If a person possesses or attempts to
5possess more than 28 grams of tetrahydrocannabinols included under s. 961.14 (4)
6(t), or a controlled substance analog of tetrahydrocannabinols, the person may be
7fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both upon
8a first conviction and is guilty of a Class I felony for a 2nd or subsequent offense. For
9purposes of this paragraph, an offense is considered a 2nd or subsequent offense if,
10prior to the offender's conviction of the offense, the offender has at any time been
11convicted of any felony or misdemeanor under this chapter or under any statute of
12the United States or of any state relating to controlled substances, controlled
13substance analogs, narcotic drugs, marijuana, or depressant, stimulant, or
14hallucinogenic drugs.
AB1207,11 15Section 11. 961.46 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1207,5,21 16961.46 Distribution to persons under age 18. If a person 17 years of age
17or over violates s. 961.41 (1), except s. 961.41 (1) (h) 1g., by distributing or delivering
18a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog to a person 17 years of age
19or under who is at least 3 years his or her junior, the applicable maximum term of
20imprisonment prescribed under s. 961.41 (1) for the offense may be increased by not
21more than 5 years.
AB1207,12 22Section 12 . 973.016 of the statutes is created to read:
AB1207,6,2 23973.016 Special disposition for marijuana-related crimes. (1)
24Dismissal of conviction for persons serving a sentence or probation. (a) A person

1serving a sentence or on probation may request dismissal as provided under par. (b)
2if one of the following applies:
AB1207,6,63 1. The sentence or probation period was imposed for a conviction under s.
4961.41 (1) (h), 2021 stats., or s. 961.41 (1m) (h), 2021 stats., and the person proves
5to the court by a preponderance of the evidence that the amount of marijuana
6involved was 28 grams or less, or 2 or fewer plants.
AB1207,6,97 2. The sentence or probation period was imposed for a conviction under s.
8961.41 (3g) (e), 2021 stats., and the person proves to the court by a preponderance
9of the evidence that the amount of marijuana involved was 28 grams or less.
AB1207,6,1610 (b) A person to whom par. (a) applies shall file a petition with the sentencing
11court to request dismissal of the conviction. If the court receiving a petition under
12this paragraph determines that par. (a) applies, the court may grant the petition
13without a hearing or may schedule a hearing to consider the petition. If a hearing
14is scheduled, unless the person cannot prove the amount of marijuana involved was
1528 grams or less or the court determines that the dismissal of the conviction presents
16an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety, the court shall grant the petition.
AB1207,6,20 17(2) Expunging an offense for persons who completed a sentence or
18probation.
(a) A person who has completed his or her sentence or period of probation
19may request under par. (b) expungement of the conviction if one of the following
20applies:
AB1207,6,2421 1. The sentence or probation period was imposed for a conviction under s.
22961.41 (1) (h), 2021 stats., or s. 961.41 (1m) (h), 2021 stats., and the person proves
23to the court by a preponderance of the evidence that the amount of marijuana
24involved was 28 grams or less, or 2 or fewer plants.
AB1207,7,3
12. The sentence or probation period was imposed for a conviction under s.
2961.41 (3g) (e), 2021 stats., and the person proves to the court by a preponderance
3of the evidence that the amount of marijuana involved was 28 grams or less.
AB1207,7,114 (b) A person to whom par. (a) applies shall file a petition with the sentencing
5court to request expungement of the conviction. If the court receiving a petition
6under this paragraph determines that par. (a) applies, the court may grant the
7petition without a hearing or may schedule a hearing to consider the petition. If a
8hearing is scheduled, unless the person cannot prove the amount of marijuana
9involved was 28 grams or less or the court determines that expungement of the
10conviction presents an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety, the court shall
11grant the petition.
AB1207,7,14 12(3) Crimes dismissed or expunged under this section. A conviction that has
13been expunged or dismissed under this section is not considered a conviction for any
14purpose under state or federal law, including for purposes of s. 941.29 or 18 USC 921.
AB1207,7,1515 (End)
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