Why I Believe Cannabis Will Be Legalized in Wisconsin in 2025 – Part 1: The People of Wisconsin

It's time to free the green Wisconsin.

First off—apologies in advance. There will be typos, grammatical errors, and probably a little “word salad.” Why? Because this isn’t written by ChatGPT. I believe the issue at hand is important enough for me to take a moment and communicate this message as directly as I can.

For those new to Let’s Legalize Wisconsin, let me introduce myself. My name is Bob Hickey Jr., but the canna-community knows me as Bobby Beans!

The State of Cannabis in Wisconsin

How can there be thousands of cannabis-related products sold every day for consumption with zero oversight or regulation? The flower you buy could come from another state, a legal or black-market source—it could even be ten years old.

Why? Because Wisconsin has no oversight of its cannabis industry.

While many business owners claim to prioritize quality, my first-hand experiences have also shown otherwise. I’ve seen open containers of product sitting on dusty tables, terpenes sprayed on odorless flower long past expiration, and a complete lack of Credible Certificates of Analysis (COAs) or even expiration dates.

We’ll save that deep dive for another day, but the takeaway is clear: the current situation isn’t safe, sustainable, or fair to consumers or businesses trying to do things right.

Why I’m Speaking Up

After years in the cannabis industry, I realized the state wasn’t going to enforce safety measures on its own. Cannabis and hemp products are now found in grocery stores, gas stations, and even bars—yet there’s no oversight to ensure safety and quality.

So, I set out to amplify the voice of Wisconsinites and the businesses that prioritize quality over profits. Along the way, I tried working with politicians. Unfortunately, I learned that common sense and education aren’t always enough to create change in Madison.

Despite that, Let’s Legalize Wisconsin has grown to over 50,000 voices across all platforms. The outpouring of support and the passion I see from this community are truly inspiring.

Why 2025 Feels Different

Over the past year, the path to legalization has become clearer. The conversations are changing, momentum is building, and enough factors are aligning that I genuinely believe we’ll see a proposal with real legs in 2025.

If our politicians care about their constituents, legalization in 2025 should be a slam dunk.

Why do I feel confident? Here’s a sneak peek of the topics I’ll be breaking down in this series:

• The People of Wisconsin

• The Safety of Wisconsinites

• The Wisconsin Cannabis Safety Alliance

• The History of Wisconsin Cannabis

• Existing Wisconsin Organizations (WISCAN, WIHFMA, The Great Midwest Hemp Fest, to name a few.)

• Science

• Common Sense

Each of these deserves its own focus, so let’s start with my favorite:

Part 1: The People of Wisconsin

You—the people of Wisconsin—are the reason I stay motivated. Over 80% of Wisconsinites support some form of legalization, whether medical, recreational, or both. That number isn’t just encouraging—it’s powerful.

We elect our politicians. They work for us. If they’re not listening, we need to remind them who’s in charge at the ballot box. This isn’t about party lines—it’s about accountability.

The truth is, we have more power than our politicians. While they bicker and refuse to work together, we can rise above it. We can do better. We deserve better.

The Power of Unity

The amount of power we have if we unite is staggering. The fact that so many of you have asked, “How can I help?” tells me you already understand this.

Our time to activate our voices is near. And the people are ready to step up.

Now, thanks to the formation of the Wisconsin Cannabis Safety Alliance (WICSA), there will be real volunteer opportunities for you to get involved.

This is just the beginning of the conversation. In the next post, we’ll dive into The Safety of Wisconsinites and why oversight is critical—not just for consumers but for the integrity of the industry itself.

Until then, thank you for being here, thank you for caring, and thank you for believing in a better future for Wisconsin.

Stay tuned, stay loud, and let’s keep pushing forward.

— Bobby Beans

Building Wisconsin’s Cannabis Future: Updates from the Wisconsin Cannabis Safety Alliance

Posted on 11/21/2024

Wisconsin Cannabis Businesses and Advocates join forces to discuss the formation of The Wisconsin Cannabis Safety Alliance.

The Wisconsin Cannabis Safety Alliance (WCSA) recently held a pivotal meeting to discuss the future of cannabis in Wisconsin. Key players in the industry came together to explore how best to promote safety, education, and community well-being while addressing the challenges unique to our state. Here are the highlights:

1. Community Collaboration for a Safer Industry

The WCSA aims to unite cannabis advocates, businesses, and professionals to ensure Wisconsin’s cannabis industry operates responsibly. The focus remains on self-regulation to fill the gaps left by the state’s lack of cannabis oversight.

Participants discussed:

• The importance of building trust with the community.

• Developing a framework for safe and transparent cannabis practices.

• Educating consumers on product safety and responsible usage.

2. A New Business-Focused Alliance

During the meeting, Wisconsin cannabis businesses proposed forming a separate group, potentially called the Wisconsin Canna-Businesses Alliance. This business-focused organization would address:

• Economic growth opportunities for local businesses.

• Streamlined compliance and operational support.

• Advocacy for policies that benefit small businesses in the cannabis industry.

• Providing guidance to new and existing cannabis business in Wisconsin

While operating independently, this new alliance plans to collaborate with the WCSA on shared goals, such as public education and product safety. The group plans to act as the self-regulated entity that can be accessed directly for questions and concerns about guidelines from the public.

3. Prioritizing Education and Transparency

Educating consumers about cannabis safety and responsible use was a recurring theme. The WCSA is working to:

• Develop clear labeling and packaging guidelines to avoid confusion or deceptive marketing (e.g., candy-like designs).

• Advocate for transparent product information, such as potency levels and ingredients.

• Partner with reliable labs to ensure consistent and trustworthy product testing.

  
  

4. Inclusion and Equity at the Forefront

Representation matters. The WCSA is committed to amplifying diverse voices, including veterans, minority communities, and healthcare professionals. Key points included:

• Veterans’ advocates shared the life-changing impact of cannabis for PTSD and other conditions.

• Ensuring equity in the industry by supporting underserved communities.

• Collaborating with healthcare professionals to provide accurate, unbiased information.

5. Ensuring Product Quality and Safety

Attendees addressed the need for standardized product testing in Wisconsin, as inconsistent methods can lead to unreliable results. Ideas discussed included:

• Partnering with labs to create a unified testing framework.

• Educating consumers on how to identify safe, quality cannabis products.

• Establishing a "trusted source" stamp to recognize businesses meeting high safety and transparency standards.

6. Promoting Local Solutions

Wisconsin’s rich agricultural heritage makes it an ideal place for local cannabis cultivation. Attendees emphasized:

• Growing cannabis locally to ensure quality and keep economic benefits within the state.

• Reducing reliance on imported products with questionable origins.

Next Steps

As Wisconsin’s cannabis community grows, collaboration remains key. The WCSA will focus on:

• Creating educational materials to inform the public about safe cannabis use.

• Establishing safety and transparency guidelines for businesses.

• Supporting the Wisconsin Canna-Businesses Alliance as it forms to address industry-specific needs.

How You Can Get Involved

Wisconsin is on the cusp of major changes in cannabis advocacy. Whether you’re a consumer, business owner, or advocate, your voice matters. Follow the progress of the Wisconsin Cannabis Safety Alliance and the proposed Wisconsin Canna-Businesses Alliance to stay informed and involved.

Join the conversation today!

• greenwi.org

• Linktree.com/LetsLegalizeWI

Together, we can create a cannabis industry that benefits everyone in Wisconsin.

The Plan to Free Cannabis in Wisconsin

First off, thank you to each and every one of YOU – for every comment, like, and share. But especially thank you to everyone who has shown up at an event, rocked a Legalize Wisconsin hoodie, or talked to a friend or neighbor about the safety of cannabis.

Our state is about to do something NO OTHER STATE has done.

The folks who helped legalize Minnesota are strong allies as we move forward, and they deserve a round of applause. They've offered to help simply out of respect, remembering how hard it was for them, and wanting to help their neighbors here in Wisconsin. They're also helping us watch our backs and prevent big money from hijacking this opportunity. Because let's be honest, Vos is blocking cannabis, but only until someone lines his pockets more than current interests are doing.

Wisconsin is being watched by everyone – hemp and marijuana are at odds in “legal states.” If hemp was just CBD, marijuana wouldn't care. But hemp has figured out that it's protected at the state and federal level because of THCA. THCA wasn't understood when it was first discovered just over a year ago. Everyone rushed to understand it, and you can't blame them – the government has made this a legal battle. Any chance to grow has to be explored.

Wisconsin is about to flip the whole damn table.

And there's no one else I'd rather go to battle with, side-by-side, than the people of Wisconsin, and the legacy hemp businesses and growers here.

We have farmers, businesses, nurses, advocates, Native American representatives, African American representatives – all those truly affected by this fight to correct the injustices forced upon us for so long.

It's ironic that for thousands of years before the “war on drugs,” cannabis was used for medicine and relief. But American politicians saw a way to use cannabis as a tool. They literally rewrote our history books and trained generations to believe cannabis was this terrible thing abused only by African Americans who got it from Mexico. They fired up the propaganda machine and force-fed it to the people. We need to remember it's not our parents' fault they don't believe us; they've been ingrained to turn away from cannabis.

Wisconsin has been quietly building a ship, a ship the figurative size of the Titanic. It was started by the true groundbreakers – the advocates who have been around since the Wisconsin NORML days, and even a few from before that. But those folks have been putting in work for decades… and they deserve the appreciation far more than I. I just figured out the social media side – I was not a founding builder; I am the billboard displaying the beautiful vessel these folks built to the people of Wisconsin.

We have an opportunity to truly change the cannabis world in the USA as we know it. Our “hemp businesses” have been gifted the opportunity of a lifetime. And they're choosing to prioritize safety instead of just chasing an incredible amount of money – they are protected at the federal and state level to sell “marijuana” as “hemp.” Lawyers and chemists will soon explain it to you. It's a lot of jargon and interpretation of laws.

But I can tell you this: we have a chance to harness what we can legally do and set up the framework to weather any storm the government tries to bring down on us.

I have slept very little this past week because the excitement and determination I have are overflowing.

I need you to be patient. I need you to trust me. I want to answer all of your questions. And I will, just as I have answered nearly every comment ever posted to any Let's Legalize Wisconsin social media account. Because I truly care about the people and ensuring they have safe access to cannabis and the education that should come with it.

We are on the brink of something that is going to shake up the United States.

The Titanic has set sail.

We are the biggest ship of our era.

We think we are unstoppable if we do this right.

We have the best of the best on board.

The only difference between our ship and the actual Titanic is that we see the iceberg in our path.

That iceberg is politics and politicians.

But we have our whole ship guarded with the most durable life-saving material possible – the very laws and rules those politicians wrote in stone, now used to protect us.

All aboard.

This ship has room for anyone who cares about doing what's right over what we are told to do.

Stronger Together.

Always.

-Bobby Beans.

(If your looking to join us in the good fight - visit greenwi.org to jump aboard!)