Madison has no cannabis dispensary buffer zones because Wisconsin has not legalized recreational or full medical cannabis; any future buffer rules would require state legalization legislation first.
Most legalization states impose 500 to 1,000-foot buffers between dispensaries and schools, parks, or churches. Madison cannot adopt such rules because no licensed dispensaries can legally open under current state law. Wis. Stat. ch. 961 leaves cannabis fully scheduled, and Madison's $1 decriminalization ordinance addresses only personal possession. If Wisconsin legalizes, Madison's zoning code (Ch. 28) would likely add a use category for cannabis retail with separation requirements similar to existing adult-entertainment buffers under Sec. 28.151. Until that happens, the only buffer-like rule affecting cannabis-adjacent products is the Madison Tobacco 21 rule restricting sales near schools under Ch. 41.
There are no cannabis-buffer violations because no licensed dispensaries exist; unlicensed cannabis sale of any kind triggers state Wis. Stat. §961.41 felony charges instead.
Madison, WI
Madison enforces Tobacco 21 under Wis. Stat. §134.66 as amended to match the federal minimum age, prohibiting the sale of cigarettes, vapes, and nicotine pro...
Madison, WI
Wisconsin does not permit recreational or full medical cannabis dispensaries. Only limited CBD oil under WI Stat. 961.32(2m) is available through physicians....
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