When Wisconsin legalized hemp, sales of CBD products took off. Now there is a new hemp byproduct that is growing in popularity. It's called delta-8 THC. It's sold like CBD but its effects are similar to marijuana.

"Will it get you high? Basically, yes," said Rachel Cartwright, owner of CBD Therapeutics of Wisconsin.

You can get delta-8 in candies, oils and vapes, and sales are booming across Wisconsin.

"Three quarters of my telephone calls, do you sell delta-8? Do you sell delta-8?" said Dan Sebring, who owns The Real Milwaukee CBD.

But how is it legal? Well, it's complicated. In Wisconsin, hemp-derived products are legal as long as they contain less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC. Delta-8 THC is also found in hemp and is not explicitly prohibited.

While some Republican legislators won’t support cannabis legalization in Wisconsin, bills to further criminalize cannabis continue to be introduced. On Thursday, the GOP-majority Assembly Committee on Substance Abuse and Prevention held a hearing on a bill (AB-440) that would enhance felony penalties associated with butane hash oil and related products. Hash oil is a form of cannabis THC concentrate which can be vaporized or consumed in the form of edibles. These sorts of extracts have also been given the term “dabbing,” after a particular way of vaporizing the product.

A recent report about a sharp rise in Wisconsin’s alcohol sales got a lot of attention. But it didn’t answer the question of who was consuming all the beer, brandy and wine that’s leaving store shelves at a faster clip than it has since 1972.

It appears it might be mom and dad, along with grandpa and grandma, who are doing all the drinking. It's not young adults, at least not college students.

A new national report sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found "a substantial and significant drop" in current alcohol use among college students between 2019 and 2020.

The Monitoring the Future study, however, found marijuana use among college-age adults in 2020 across the nation was at a historic high not seen since the 1980s.

Several Wisconsin leaders announcing a bill to fully legalize cannabis in the state Tuesday.

The bill would make recreational use legal for adults, and would be taxed similar to how alcohol is taxed in the state.

The bill would also allow people to grow cannabis plants at home.

Madison senator Melissa Agard says legalization could bring the state $165 million a year or more in tax revenue.

"It is time for Wisconsin to do what we need to do to realize that prohibition has failed our state and it is past time to get this done for our community," Agard said.

This is her eighth time trying to pass legislation like this.

18 states have passed laws allowing full recreational use of cannabis.

Cheba Hut, a marijuana-themed sandwich joint, opened its first Milwaukee location featuring signature sub sandwiches, desserts, a full service bar and more. 

The restaurant opened on Monday at 2907 N. Oakland Ave., where Blaze Pizza was formerly located. 

Cheba Hut offers more than 30 signature sub sandwiches, a variety of Rice Krispie treats, salads and other munchies. 

The sandwiches are named after strains of marijuana — such as White Widow, for a chicken, bacon and ranch sandwich, and Kali Mist, for a turkey club with chipotle mayo, jalapeno and avocado. None of the products include any actual marijuana.

Wisconsin saw a significant decline in the number of hemp growers and processors operating this year. That’s according to data from the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

Hemp growers and processors are required to register annually with DATCP as part of the state’s Hemp Research Program, which will continue through the 2021 growing season.

As of Monday, DATCP had received 803 grower applications, 83 percent of which were returning applicants. That’s about 48 percent fewer applications than it received in all of 2020.

After a big year in 2020, interest in growing and processing hemp in Wisconsin has dropped off considerably.

In Wisconsin, hemp growers and processors must register annually.

In 2019, Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) received 1,491 grower and 738 processor applications. 4,513 acres were planted and 4,037 acres harvested during the 2019 season.

In 2020, 1,537 grower and 761 processor applications were received. 5,444 acres were planted and as for the 2020 season’s harvest, that figure isn’t available yet.

Wisconsin has been pushing for legal cannabis, but it looks like now, those hopes may be gone. The Senate leader has stated this week that they will not be making moves to legalize, as there is not enough support from Republicans to back it up.

Cash-strapped governments around the country have found a silver lining in the pandemic-caused loss of tax revenue. Legalized marijuana has provided millions to state and local governments - in some cases, millions more than anticipated.

The ability to raise tax dollars has been a selling point for marijuana legalization from the beginning. Long before the state legislature approved adult-use sales, Illinois politicians hoped marijuana could help the state pay off some of its massive debt. Other states, such as Colorado, have used sales tax dollars to fund schools and public improvement projects and programs.