MADISON (WGBA) -- At the beginning of December, the House of Representatives are scheduled to meet and vote on the MORE Act - which would legalize marijuana across the country.
If it passes, marijuana would be removed from the Controlled Substances Act. However, the sale of marijuana would still be up to the states. Some think, if it passes, Wisconsin can start to see changes.
"Really it force people to start having a conversation," said Jay Selthofner, a member of Wisconsin NORML, a marijuana advocacy group. "Much of the restriction in Wisconsin has been because it was federally illegal. Passing the MORE act would change that."
However some do not want to see any changes to marijuana laws. A group called Parents Opposed to Pot say marijuana should remain federally illegal.
"We know drinking and driving is an issues," said Julie Schauer, a group member. "Having another drug would only make it worse."
Leaders in Madison voted this week to decriminalize the drug and let people posses small amounts of it without penalty. Selthofner thinks the state could benefit from marijuana. If the MORE Act passes, he thinks Wisconsin would be wise to consider it's options.
"The taxing, the regulating, could help the economy in Wisconsin and lead to many jobs," he said. "Still Wisconsin is far away from full recreational marijuana, but medical could happen.
In a statement to NBC 26, Rep Mike Gallagher, who will be voting on the MORE Act, said the following:
"Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, which makes its possession, sale, transportation, and use illegal under federal law. While I support reviewing its classification under current law, the MORE Act goes a step too far by decriminalizing it at the federal level entirely. Any move to a less restrictive schedule should be aligned with a scientific and evidence-based approach that considers both potential risks and benefits.”
If the MORE Act passes the House, it would still have to also pass the Senate and go to President Trump's desk for a signature.
