Walker Will Likely Sign Rest Of Bills Recently Passed By Legislature

Gov. Scott Walker has signaled he’s likely to sign the rest of the bills the Legislature sent to his desk before it adjourned, including one that would legalize a marijuana extract to treat seizures.

The marijuana extract bill would legalize a substance known as cannabidiol to treat seizure disorders, mostly in kids. While it is medicine derived from the marijuana plant, it’s not the kind of medical marijuana that’s legal in others states. Cannibidiol contains very low levels of THC, the substance in marijuana that gives users a high.

Walker said he was still reviewing the bill to make sure it does what it says it does, but Walker told reporters at a stop in Middleton that he’s fine with the concept.

“This is not even remotely close to medical marijuana,” said Walker. “It’s certainly far-removed from legalizing marijuana. This is a very specific instance with a byproduct, limited largely to helping young people with seizures. And it would be highly controlled through the oversight of the examining board through both a physician and a pharmacist.”

The bill to legalize cannibidiol passed the Legislature without a single “no” vote.

Walker also told reporters that he did not see any major issues with any of the bills remaining on his desk.

“I don’t anticipate any policy differences,” he said. “It’s just maybe a matter of making sure that it’s drafted correctly.”

That stack of bills includes one that would require police departments to enlist outside investigators when people die while in police custody.