02-06-2020 Meeting Minutes for Northern Wisconsin NORML
The Northern Wisconsin NORML meeting began at 6:30 pm at the Appleton Public Library .
Chapter Secretary Jessica Struzik is recording the meeting minutes.
Board Members present: Kris Teegardin, Jay Selthofner, Richard Martin Jr., Jessica Struzik
In addition, 18 other people attended either all or some part of the meeting.
Kris opened the meeting by asking each person present to introduce themselves. Everyone was given a chance to say something.
At 6:42 pm, Kris presented a slideshow and gave a brief overview of the different bills currently being presented in Wisconsin..
SB 507 / AB 570 or “The Flower Bill”. Sponsors are Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) and Representative Chris Taylor (D-Madison). SB507 is supported in the senate by Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point).
SB 683 / AB 750 or “The No Flower Bil” – Sponsors are Senators Kathie Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) and Rep Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma)
Decriminalization – Introduced by David Crowley (D) and Sheila Stubbs (D) – would decriminalize minor marijuana possession up to 28 grams. No bill number or language available at this time.
SB 377 / AB 220 – The Full Package – Sponsored by Sen Johnson (D-Milwaukee) and Rep Sargent (D-Madison). Recreational Cannabis!
Let’s Go Local!
We all need to contact our local elected officials and voice our support.
Who are your local representatives? Find out and contact them.
- City/Town/Village
- County
- District Attorney
- Sherriff
- Judges
Has your local government:
- Passed an ordinance decriminalizing possession?
- Added a referendum?
- Passed a resolution supporting medical and/or recreational cannabis?
What can we do?
- Correspond directly and individually with elected officials
- Make public comments at city council and county meetings / testify at state committee hearings
- Hold a public forum
- Letters to the editor
- Hold events for education and awareness
What else can we do? Let us know your thoughts!
At 6:54 pm the slideshow ended. We offered members 3 minutes each to address the group.
Nettie McGee spoke briefly. She is running for County Board District 31 in Outagamie County
Brian Defferding addressed the group. He is currently on the Winnebago County Board. He is running for Winnebago County Board Supervisor. He is a libertarian and currently on the planning and zoning committee. He hopes to run for the Judicial and public safety committee.
At 7 pm, a potential mayoral candidate, Eric J. Beach, dropped in. He addressed the group and took questions. He stated that he “doesn’t understand why marijuana is illegal”, but that even if he became mayor, he couldn’t make any promises to decriminalize it due to state laws. However he supports our cause and if asked publicly, he will state that he feels it should be legalized. He doesn’t want to hunt down cannabis users. He feels that it would help our economy. We then had a lengthy discussion regarding topics that we all felt would be relevant for a mayoral candidate to be aware of regarding cannabis legalization.
At 7:23 pm Kris spoke again briefly, and then opened the floor up to questions or comments.
We discussed the possibility of a petition drive in the Appleton and surrounding areas.
Anyone may feel free to contact Executive Director Kris Teegardin at 1-720-568-0461 and kristeegardin@gmail.com. He is a resident of Appleton and is the chapter’s point of contact for a petition drive.
Kris asked that everyone present, no matter what their political preferences and ideas are, please contact their local and elected officials and start a respectful and polite discussion with them regarding cannabis law reform in Wisconsin.
One person suggested that everyone attend the forums that are held at the library and other venues. For example, last week there was a forum of Mayoral candidates at the Appleton Public Library.
Kris asked everyone to please leave a method of contact with us. He provided a signup sheet which will remain confidential and is for our records only.
He then asked us to speak to each other and network for the remaining half hour.
We had 3 new dues paying chapter members for January 2020.
The meeting officially concluded at 8 pm.
