On the latest episode of the Trade to Black podcast presented by Flowhub, host Shadd Dales and co-host Anthony Varrell welcome two powerful voices in cannabis criminal justice reform: Jerry Haymon and Weldon Angelos. What happens next after cannabis rescheduling — and who really benefits? Is expungement finally moving from discussion to action? We’ll cover the latest developments out of Washington surrounding the federal rescheduling of cannabis.
Jerry Haymon, a former college football player turned entrepreneur, shares his powerful firsthand perspective on the expungement and justice side of cannabis reform on the podcast. He had a harrowing journey—from operating what he believed to be a legal cannabis business in California to serving nearly six years in federal prison on conspiracy charges. JDespite staying within state lines and seeking legal counsel, Hayman was prosecuted under federal conspiracy laws after out-of-state customers were tied to his operation. Now he works with the Weldon Project and Mission Green to advocate for expungement and systemic reform.
In the second segment, Weldon Angelos joins us discuss the historic rescheduling announcement and his involvement in the process, including direct conversations with the 47th President of the United States – Donald Trump. Angelos shares his perspective on why this executive action happened now, when rescheduling could realistically be signed off.
Weldon Angelos, a well-known cannabis reform advocate who served time for a similar offense to Jerry Haymon and was later pardoned, sheds light on the broader policy implications. Schedule III rescheduling could significantly reduce maximum sentences for certain cannabis offenses—from 20 years to as little as five. Weldon also emphasized the incremental nature of policy change in Washington, defending rescheduling as a meaningful first step. He revealed plans to continue lobbying efforts in D.C. with high-profile allies like Mike Tyson.
You won’t want to miss this interview, and what this could mean for reform. Check out the full episode here.
