Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, we check in on Wisconsin, where the governor supports legalization. We have some news on DEA rescheduling. The new administration has appointed a pardon czar. And finally, if you like your magic acts with a side of cannabis, check out the weed magician.

WISCONSIN

Wisconsin’s laws on cannabis are among the most strict in the nation. Only low THC products are allowed when prescribed by a doctor. Any other use of cannabis can lead to jail time and fines. Geographically, the state borders Minnesota to the west, Illinois to the south and Michigan to the east, which leaves America’s Dairyland losing revenue to its neighbors. Some of the state’s elected officials would like to change that. Governor Tony Evers (D) included cannabis legalization in his budget proposal, and two bills were introduced in the legislature that, if enacted, would regulate marijuana like alcohol. Could 2025 be the year that Wisconsin legalizes? Further bulletins as events warrant.

RE-SCHEDULING

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) handling of re-scheduling has not met with universal acclaim. The latest expression of dismay comes from the group Doctors For Drug Policy Reform (D4DPR). In a brief filed recently with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the the D.C. Circuit, the group accuses the agency of arbitrarily limiting the number of witnesses allowed to testify in re-scheduling hearings, and in providing no explanation of why it selected largely witnesses who oppose moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. D4DPR would like the selection process to be completely redone, which would delay the hearings even further. Stay tuned!

PARDON CZAR

The new administration has appointed a person formerly incarcerated on drug charges to serve as the nation’s pardon czar. Alice Marie Johnson, who was serving a life sentence for cocaine possession and money laundering, received a presidential commutation in 2018 and a pardon in 2020. The exact responsibilities of the possession were not spelled out, but the announcement indicated that Ms. Johnson would look for cases where presidential clemency would be warranted. In other law enforcement news, the President indicated that he favored the death penalty for convicted drug dealers.

AND FINALLY

If you’ve grown a bit tired of magicians pulling rabbits out of a hat, or sawing a lady in two, check out Ben Zabin’s Smokus Pocus show.

Be well everyone – we’ll see you next week!