Ald. Khalif J. Rainey
(414) 286-3764
Passes Judiciary & Legislation Committee unanimously
Alderman Khalif J. Rainey thanked the five-person Judiciary and Legislation
Committee for their unanimous support and co-sponsorship of his resolution directing the City of Milwaukee Intergovernmental Relations Division (IRG) to seek introduction and passage of State legislation to amend the State statute prohibiting certain applicants with criminal histories from receiving industrial hemp licenses.
Common Council File #181768, sponsored by Ald. Rainey, notes that Wisconsin state
law concerning who is eligible to obtain an industrial hemp license is more prohibitive than the federal Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The resolution directs the City’s IRG team to work with state legislators to introduce and pass an amendment to the state statute to bring it it line with the less restrictive federal law: that a person convicted of a felony related to a controlled substance under state or federal law be ineligible for an industrial hemp license for a 10-year period. Current state law denies a license to anyone with a controlled substance felony no matter the time frame.
“Considering the feasibility study underway to determine if the Century City site is
capable of supporting industrial hemp production, changing this state statute is critical to help ensure that more future licensees in our most economically-challenged neighborhoods can participate,” said Ald. Rainey. “Those who have demonstrated rehabilitation should have that opportunity to succeed in this booming job-producing industry.”
The file moves to the full Common Council for a vote on Tuesday, April 16.
