Cannabis Is Illegal in Wisconsin
Cannabis remains illegal for recreational and medical use. Industrial hemp CBD was legalized in 2017.
Wisconsin Cannabis Quick Facts
| Status | Fully Illegal (CBD Exception) |
| Recreational | Not Legal |
| Medical | Not Available |
| Decriminalized | No |
| Possession Limit | None — cannabis is illegal (except hemp-derived CBD with 0.3% or less THC) |
| Regulatory Agency | Wisconsin Department of Health Services |
Penalties & Enforcement
First offense possession: misdemeanor, up to 6 months and $1,000 fine. Second offense: Class I felony, up to 3.5 years and $10,000 fine.
Cannabis possession carries criminal penalties in Wisconsin. If you are traveling from a legal state, you must consume or dispose of all cannabis products before entering Wisconsin. Interstate transport is a federal crime.
What You Need to Know
Governor Evers has included cannabis legalization in budget proposals; rejected by Republican legislature. Some cities (Madison, Milwaukee) have reduced penalties locally.
Nearby States with Legal Cannabis
Wisconsin borders or is near states with legal recreational cannabis. Remember: transporting cannabis across state lines is a federal crime, even between two legal states.
- Illinois — Recreational & Medical
- Michigan — Recreational & Medical
- Minnesota — Recreational & Medical
Learn More
- Understanding State Cannabis Laws — how state and federal laws interact
- What to Expect at a Dispensary — first visit guide
- Dosing Fundamentals — start low, go slow
- Drug Interactions — check before combining cannabis with medications
- Driving & Impairment — DUI laws apply in every state
For support with quitting or cutting back on cannabis, visit our companion site CannabisDependence.org