Wisconsin hemp bill draws opposition from law enforcement due to THC provision

MADISON -- A bipartisan bill is on the table in Madison for those growing and selling hemp.

At a public hearing in Madison, the authors of the hemp bill explained it is broadly designed to help farmers, retailers, and consumers turn a profit, but some members of law enforcement voiced their concern about a provision in the bill meant to prevent someone who consumed a product made with trace amounts of THC from being charged with an OWI.

"It wouldn't matter how that THC was ingested, whether that be through legalizing hemp, through the use of medical marijuana or through the use of illegal marijuana use," said Bernie Coughlin with the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association.

"The main reasons for us to do this differently, outside of doing it with the feds, aligning with the feds, is because I didn't want us to have any loopholes in there for our farmers to end up being criminalized because they have a hot crop," said Senator Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee.

Law enforcement officials said as long as the THC provision is taken out, they're OK with the bill.

Senator Taylor issued this statement on this issue: