Price County Sheriff’s Race Features One of Wisconsin’s Sharpest Cannabis Policy Contrasts

As Wisconsin voters prepare for the August primary, the Price County Sheriff’s race has emerged as one of the clearest examples of how local elections can directly impact cannabis and hemp consumers.

While sheriffs do not write Wisconsin law, they have tremendous discretion in how they prioritize enforcement, interact with their communities, and advocate for public policy. The responses from the two candidates show a significant philosophical divide on cannabis that voters should understand before casting their ballots.

Bob Hawn: “The Law is the Law”

Current Chief Deputy Robert “Bob” Hawn takes the traditional law enforcement approach.

When asked about Delta-8, hemp-derived cannabinoids, marijuana, and other drug issues, Hawn stated that Price County ordinances prohibiting Delta-8 products should continue to be enforced and that marijuana laws should be enforced exactly as written.

Perhaps the most revealing part of his response was his statement that an officer’s personal views on cannabis are irrelevant because law enforcement’s responsibility is simply to enforce existing state and local laws.

That position reflects a philosophy shared by many career law enforcement professionals: policy decisions belong to legislators, while sheriffs are responsible for carrying out the law regardless of personal opinion.

Walt Madsen: Calls for Marijuana Decriminalization

Candidate Walt Madsen took a noticeably different position.

While making it clear he wants aggressive enforcement against synthetic drugs and hard narcotics, Madsen separated marijuana from those substances.

He stated:

• He is not against marijuana.
• He believes marijuana should be decriminalized.
• He argued cannabis is “not worse than alcohol.”
• He suggested legalization could generate tax revenue or even help reduce property taxes.

That makes Madsen one of the relatively few sheriff candidates in Wisconsin openly supporting cannabis decriminalization during the 2026 election cycle.

Hemp Matters Too

For Wisconsin’s hemp industry, this distinction is important.

Although the interview focused primarily on Delta-8 products and marijuana, Wisconsin’s hemp businesses continue operating under an evolving regulatory framework that has become increasingly politicized over the past several years.

Sheriffs often become the public face of enforcement decisions involving hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Their priorities, interpretations, and willingness to distinguish between legal hemp products and illegal substances can have a real-world impact on retailers, processors, farmers, and consumers.

That doesn’t mean a sheriff can simply ignore state law—but it does mean voters should understand each candidate’s philosophy toward cannabis policy before heading to the polls.

Why This Race Matters

The Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Network has encouraged activists to look beyond statewide races this election.

County sheriffs are constitutional officers who influence how drug enforcement resources are allocated, how officers interact with cannabis consumers, and how openly law enforcement participates in conversations about future policy changes.

This race illustrates why candidate questionnaires matter.

One candidate emphasizes enforcing current cannabis laws exactly as they exist.

The other openly states marijuana should be decriminalized while continuing to prioritize enforcement against synthetic and hard drugs.

For cannabis advocates, hemp businesses, patients, and consumers, that represents a meaningful policy distinction.

An Informed Vote Starts With Research

Whether voters agree with either candidate or not, the important takeaway is simple: local elections matter.

Sheriffs may not vote on legislation in Madison, but they shape how laws are enforced in their communities and often become influential voices in statewide criminal justice and cannabis policy discussions.

As Wisconsin continues debating the future of hemp regulation, medical cannabis, and broader legalization, voters should carefully examine where every local candidate stands—not just those running for governor or the Legislature.

The Price County Sheriff’s race is another reminder that cannabis policy isn’t determined only in the Capitol. It is also influenced by the people elected to enforce the law in every county across Wisconsin.

To learn more about Waldemar Madsen, please join his Facebook Group VOTE Waldemar Madsen for sheriff 2026, campaign contributions can be sent to Waldemar Madsen, 561 Flambeau Ave Phillips Wisconsin 54555.

The primary election date is August 11th, 2026.

Closing note: Price County sheriff challenger Waldemar Madsen showed up alone to a July 27 candidate forum live-streamed from Harbor View. The other candidate did not participate. source