State Backers of Legal Marijuana Glad to See Action by Federal Government

Friday, May 3rd, 2024 -- 9:01 AM

(Rich Kremer, Wisconsin Public Radio) Wisconsin backers of marijuana legalization say they’re glad to see the federal government recommend easing restrictions on the drug.

But, according to Rich Kremer with Wisconsin Public Radio, they don’t expect to see any sudden shift among Republican state lawmakers who have deadlocked on medical marijuana and oppose recreational use.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice recommended changing the classification of marijuana, which begins a lengthy rule-making process that could eventually ease restrictions on production and research.

Currently, the Drug Enforcement Administration lists marijuana as a schedule I drug, which places it on the same level as drugs like heroin and LSD. The DOJ is recommending moving it to a schedule III classification, which would place it in the same category as ketamine, anabolic steroids and Tylenol with codeine.

While a reclassification would be a major change in federal policy, supporters of full legalization in Wisconsin don’t expect to see any sudden change of heart among Republican state lawmakers who have strongly opposed full legalization and have been unable to find consensus within their own party on making it legal for medical use

Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Network Director Jay Selthofner says a federal reclassification will have no bearing on whether states can legalize marijuana. “What I think it would do is open up cannabis research on a federal basis, with the less restrictive classification schedule that it’s in,” Selthofner said.

As of April, the National Conference of State Legislatures reports 38 states allow the use of medical cannabis products and 24 states have passed laws allowing recreational use of marijuana. Since 2018, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota have legalized recreational pot.

Polling from the Marquette University Law School shows a notable shift in views on legalization over the past decade. In 2013, 50 percent of respondents said they favored making marijuana legal in Wisconsin, while 45 percent were opposed.

This January, 63 percent supported full legalization and 29 percent were opposed. When it comes to medical marijuana, the January survey found 83 percent of respondents said it should be legal for medical purposes and just 12 percent were opposed.

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