Former Police Sergeant Backs Federal Rescheduling: 'Focus on Real Crime'

A former St. Louis police sergeant is adding his voice to a growing chorus of law enforcement officials backing the Trump administration's push to reschedule marijuana, arguing that cannabis enforcement pulls officers away from serious public safety threats.

Gary Wiegert, who spent decades patrolling St. Louis streets, laid out the case in a recent op-ed: "Every hour an officer spends on a simple marijuana case is an hour not spent investigating violent crime, stopping human trafficking, or getting fentanyl off the streets."

The perspective represents a significant shift in law enforcement attitudes toward cannabis policy. While police unions have historically opposed marijuana reform, a subset of current and former officers now argues that prohibition wastes limited resources on low-level offenses while major crimes go unsolved.

The Resource Allocation Problem

Wiegert's argument centers on practical policing realities. Processing a marijuana arrest requires booking time, paperwork, evidence handling, and often court appearances—all for cases that increasingly result in minimal penalties or dismissals in states with decriminalization measures.

The math becomes stark when measured against other public safety priorities. The U.S. recorded over 112,000 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2023, while human trafficking cases continue to overwhelm understaffed investigative units. Meanwhile, police departments nationwide face officer shortages and budget constraints.

Several major police chiefs have echoed similar concerns in recent years. The Law Enforcement Action Partnership, a group representing current and former law enforcement officials, counts over 200 members who advocate for marijuana policy reform on similar grounds.

The Political Dynamics

The Trump administration's support for rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III has created unusual political alignments. Traditional law-and-order conservatives find themselves agreeing with reform advocates, though often for different reasons.

For officers like Wiegert, it's not about embracing cannabis culture—it's about tactical resource deployment. The rescheduling move wouldn't legalize marijuana federally, but it would acknowledge the plant's medical applications and potentially reduce federal enforcement priorities.

Yet the shift isn't universal among law enforcement. Some police organizations, particularly in states without legal cannabis markets, maintain that marijuana serves as a gateway to investigating larger criminal operations. They argue that minor cannabis stops often lead to discovering weapons, harder drugs, or outstanding warrants.

What Law Enforcement Reform Means for the Industry

The emerging law enforcement support for rescheduling carries weight beyond symbolic backing. Police testimony has historically influenced legislative debates, and officer perspectives often sway moderate lawmakers hesitant about cannabis reform.

For the cannabis industry, law enforcement neutrality—or better yet, support—removes a significant political obstacle to federal reform. The sector has long faced the challenge that vocal police opposition could derail banking reform, taxation changes, or interstate commerce provisions.

But Wiegert's position also highlights the gap between rescheduling and full legalization. He's advocating for reduced enforcement priorities and medical recognition, not necessarily recreational markets. That distinction matters as the industry pushes for broader reforms beyond the current rescheduling proposal.

The Bigger Picture

The debate reflects evolving American attitudes toward cannabis. Gallup polling shows 70% of Americans support legalization, including growing percentages of Republicans and older voters—demographics that typically align with law enforcement perspectives.

Missouri, Wiegert's home state, legalized recreational marijuana in 2022 with 53% voter approval. The state's experience offers a real-world test case: marijuana arrests have plummeted while police departments report no corresponding increase in serious crime rates.

As the Drug Enforcement Administration continues reviewing the rescheduling proposal—a process that could conclude in early 2025—perspectives like Wiegert's may influence the final decision. The agency typically weighs input from various stakeholders, including law enforcement, before implementing major policy shifts.

The question remains whether this represents a genuine shift in law enforcement culture or simply pragmatic adaptation to changing political realities. Either way, when former cops start arguing that marijuana enforcement wastes their time, the policy landscape has clearly changed.

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This article is based on original reporting by www.marijuanamoment.net.