Gov. Tony Evers & Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez

Gov. Tony Evers & Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez — Pro-Cannabis WI Executive

Gov. Tony Evers (D, 2019-Jan 2027) is pro-medical and pro-recreational cannabis; not seeking a third term. Cannabis in 4 consecutive biennial budgets (2019, 2021, 2023, 2025); all stripped by Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez (D) is running for governor 2026. AG Josh Kaul (D, pro-cannabis, running for re-election). Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski (D, running for lieutenant governor).

Legal Disclaimer: This information reflects Wisconsin cannabis law as of May 2026 and is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Laws and regulations change — always verify current rules with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) for Lydia's Law CBD; Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) for hemp or a qualified attorney. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law.

Last verified: May 2026

Gov. Tony Evers

Tony Evers (D) was inaugurated January 7, 2019 as Wisconsin’s 46th governor. Re-elected November 2022. Not seeking a third term. Evers has been Wisconsin’s most consistent pro-cannabis governor: cannabis policy reform has appeared in four consecutive biennial budgets (2019, 2021, 2023, 2025).

Each budget’s cannabis provisions have been stripped by Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee. Most recent: May 8, 2025 12-4 party-line vote stripping the 2025-2027 budget’s adult-use plus medical proposal (projected $58.1M revenue), the tribal-state compact authority, and the citizen-initiated-referendum reform — all part of a sweeping cut of more than 600 budget provisions. Evers post-vote: "Republicans talk a lot about what they’re against, but not what they’re for. Wisconsinites are sick and tired of having a do-nothing Legislature." See Evers Budgets page.

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez (Running for Governor)

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez (D) is running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2026. Rodriguez has been a consistent pro-cannabis voice within the Evers administration. Her gubernatorial campaign positions cannabis-policy reform as a centerpiece of the Democratic primary.

AG Josh Kaul

Attorney General Josh Kaul (D) is pro-cannabis and is running for re-election in 2026. Kaul’s posture on cannabis enforcement has been less aggressive than the GOP-led JFC removals would suggest. Within Wisconsin DOJ, the cannabis-prosecution posture is a function of his prosecutorial-direction discretion alongside county-DA discretion.

Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski

Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski (D) is running for lieutenant governor in 2026. Cannabis-policy posture aligned with Democratic gubernatorial coalition.

The 2024 Election Effect

Democrats picked up four Senate seats and ten Assembly seats in November 2024, narrowing but not breaking the Republican legislative majority. The 2024 Wisconsin Supreme Court redistricting ruling tightened maps. The 2026 election follows that incremental shift.

The 2026 Inflection

Evers’s departure in January 2027 + the 2026 Senate and Assembly elections create the conditions for potential change:

Democratic trifecta would almost certainly produce adult-use legalization in 2027-2028.
Continued split government likely yields a narrow medical program at most (SB 534 or successor).
Republican trifecta would foreclose adult-use indefinitely but might still pass a Felzkowski-style medical bill given GOP internal evolution.