Calling for Change

 The people of Stevens Point are demanding change!  At the beginning of November the people of Stevens Point took a vote on if they would be in favor of the legalization of marijuana. This issue was first brought attention to in 2018 when the people of Stevens Point voted in favor for medical marijuana.

The people of Stevens Point are ready for change! According to the Stevens Point Journal, Wisconsin needs to catch up with the times. Just under 25 states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana and 39 have legalized the use of medical marijuana. 

Stevens Point has made many changes already to decriminalize the herb. In the summer of 2022 Stevens Point amended the ordinance which resulted in a  reduction of fines if caught possessing marijuana. The new ordinance is now   $5 plus court fee if caught with 25g or less. These are all good steps in the right direction for Stevens Point and Wisconsin as a whole. This last November, The Stevens Point Marijuana referendum had an outstanding 7946 votes in favor of the legalization of marijuana and 2741 votes opposing it. Although this won’t legalize marijuana it demonstrates  the mindset of the people at the heart of Wisconsin.

Those opposing to the idea of legalizing marijuana say that they are concerned that it is a gateway drug and will get the youth addicted. A 2018 Washington survey shows the use of marijuana among teens. The survey was taken by 230,000 students ranging from 8th grade to 12th grade. 

The survey  provides the following information. Out of the 230,000 students they interviewed, there has been no significant increase in the underage use of marijuana. In fact only 9% of participants have said they obtained it from an actual dispensary. The graph below shows the usage of marijuana throughout the years as marijuana becomes more available.