Wisconsin may be famous — or infamous — for its alcohol consumption, but when it comes to another popular intoxicant, it stands with a minority of just nine other states that ban marijuana.

That’s particularly an issue in northwest Wisconsin, where a trip to a legal dispensary in Michigan or Minnesota is just a short drive across the border.

The Legislature is considering a bill to allow medical marijuana and there are efforts to legalize it altogether. Simultaneous with those state actions is a provision in the federal bill that ended the government shutdown that would close shops that sell the currently legal cannabis derivative CBD made from the hemp plant.

“There are a lot of representatives that we have talked to that are not happy about that getting slipped in the bill. However, they understood the urgency that we had to reopen the government,” said Timothy Frey, a legalized marijuana proponent, who with his wife is the proprietor of eight Wisconsin CBD stores including in Superior, Spooner and Hayward.

“My understanding is that they got some assurances saying if they voted to reopen the government, Congress would deal with the hemp issue after the fact. What we in the industry really want is true regulation so we can have some good quality products that people can trust.”

Frey spoke with WPR’s Robin Washington on “Morning Edition” about the myriad of bills and laws and their effects on Wisconsin, especially for border areas near Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois where recreational marijuana is legal.

The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Robin Washington: You have a very clear vested interest in legalization. Before we get into the regulations and prohibitions, why did you open the stores where and when you did, with no guarantee of complete legalization in the state?

Timothy Frey: We pride ourselves on the amount of people that we have helped. This plant has been around since the beginning of time, and it can  give people a more natural alternative to prescription medications that people want to try to get off of. And when we launch stores, it’s kind of like planting flags — so that we’re ready on day one for when Wisconsin gets its act together.

RW: Tell us the status of marijuana in Wisconsin right now and what’s being proposed legislatively?

TF: Marijuana is illegal on the federal level. In Wisconsin, lawmakers aren’t totally ready to talk about legalizing recreational marijuana quite yet. The medical marijuana bill has a lot of things missing and a lot of constituents are going to be left out of those programs.

RW: I understand there’s an effort on the state level to nullify the effect of the federal hemp ban in the shutdown bill.

TF: Yes, there are a couple of hemp bills out there. One is a Democratic bill, which was very well written and would save the industry. However, I’m not sure if they reached across the aisle.

Another is by state Sen. Patrick Testin, a Republican, which would also save hemp in Wisconsin. Companies like ours would lose interstate commerce and possibly our federal tax deductions if it is illegal on the federal side, but could still operate in the state.

RW: The medical marijuana bill is sponsored by members of the Legislature’s Republican majority which increases its chances of passing. But you’re actually against it. Why?

TF: The problem I have with it is it’s very restrictive. Half of my customers wouldn’t be able to qualify because certain ailments are not included in the bill. And the best way to get CBD into your system isn’t included in it.

Marijuana is high in THC and low in CBD. Hemp is high in CBD and low in THC. So for people that want the medicinal properties of the cannabis plant without the psychoactive effect, hemp is the better option.

RW: I noted you represent a vested interest. Without getting into whether marijuana is dangerous or better or worse than alcohol, I have to ask you: How does it help society to permit another intoxicant?

TF: I personally have had issues with alcohol. I dealt with a lot of trauma when I was younger, and as I got older, I started using it as a crutch and it put me in the hospital. I am now almost five years sober. And it is because of cannabis and CBD and these products that I was able to get off of these things. 

People see the health issues that alcohol causes, yet they still want a way to take the edge off in life. So it’s another alternative for a healthier lifestyle.

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If you have an idea about something in northern Wisconsin you think we should talk about on “Morning Edition” — including an opposing view on this subject — send it to us at northern@wpr.org.