Attorney General JB Van Hollen (Photo: Andrew Beckett)
Wisconsin’s next attorney general could face some challenges when it comes to dealing with the growing popularity, and public acceptance, of marijuana use.
As more states consider legalizing marijuana for medicinal and even recreational use, outgoing Attorney General JB Van Hollen says his successor will likely face some difficult questions about the drug. He says “there are going to be a number of issues that come along with it that people really aren’t talking about today, that are going to become public safety law enforcement issues that somebody down the road is going to have to address.”
Even though the Republican-controlled Legislature is not likely to consider making the drug legal here, Van Hollen warns that things can change quickly. “It always depends on who’s in control…we can see pretty significant swings politically in this state pretty fast.”
Potential issues Van Hollen expects include pot making its way into Wisconsin from states where it is legal and readily available, along with how to prepare police to handle a possible increase in drugged-driving cases. He believes that, as accessibility to marijuana increases, problems will come forward that people have not really stopped to think about yet.
AUDIO: Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen on legalizing marijuana (:51)
Van Hollen is stepping down after two terms, following a decision not to run for another four years in office. He will be replaced by Republican Attorney General-elect Brad Schimel, who will be sworn in early next month.