Ohio voted to legalize marijuana and abortion. Could that happen in Wisconsin?

Ohio voters backed abortion rights in the state constitution and legalizing recreational marijuana in Tuesday's election.

Both were citizen-driven referendums, which can't happen in Wisconsin because the state doesn't allow residents to bring referendum questions to the ballot. Approving similar proposals would require the Republican-controlled Legislature to put constitutional amendments to voters, and they've previously declined to take on similar proposals.

With another state moving to support these proposals, where does Wisconsin stand and how likely is it to change? Here's what you need to know:

What's the state of marijuana in Wisconsin?

Marijuana use, both medical and recreational, is still illegal in Wisconsin. Penalties for possession vary. A first offense in a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in prison and a $1,000 fine. Additional offenses are charged as felonies.

Transporting marijuana from one state back to Wisconsin is a federal crime because cannabis is still illegal under federal law. Wisconsin is entirely surrounded by neighboring states that have made marijuana legal for medical and/ or recreational use.

What is the state of abortion access in Wisconsin?

Planned Parenthood resumed abortion services Sept. 14, 2023 after a Dane County judge signaled in July that she didn't believe the state's law banned consensual abortion procedures in Wisconsin.

Previously, abortions weren't available in Wisconsin for more than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling put back into effect an 1849 law that abortion providers previously interpreted as banning all abortions expect in cases where the mother could die.

RELATED: What can we learn from data on women who got abortions in Wisconsin prior to Dobbs ruling?

How likely are these proposals to change?

Unlike in Ohio, Wisconsin residents aren't allow to bring referendum questions to the ballot— a process known as direct ballot initiatives. Instead, landing similar proposals on the ballot would require the Republican-controlled Legislature to put amendments to voters.

That's very unlikely to happen in Wisconsin, considering how previously the Republican-controlled Legislature has passed on taking action on similar proposals.

Wisconsin has considered the idea of legalizing marijuana in the past with Gov. Tony Evers saying he'd approve legalization. State Sen. Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said that Republican lawmakers in the state Senate are "close" to supporting the legalization of marijuana in Wisconsin for medical use.

Will Wisconsin voters soon weigh in on other issues?

Wisconsin voters could soon weigh in on other issues through Republican-authored constitutional amendments, which require approval in two consecutive legislative sessions before they go to voters for ratification.

Some of the ideas have previously been bills vetoed by Evers, but voters could now approve them during future elections.

The Senate passed three such amendments earlier this week, which the Assembly is also expected to approve Thursday. Those include restricting clerks from accepting private grants to help run elections and specifying that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote. Those questions could appear on voters' April and November ballots next year.

Republicans have proposed adding other policies to the Constitution, including prohibiting closing places of worship during a state of emergency and requiring a two-thirds vote to raise taxes.

JS reporter Drew Dawson contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ohio legalizes abortion, marijuana; could that happen in Wisconsin?