Ben Carson is the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of Donald Trump. He says that any move by the Trump Administration to reschedule cannabis would help in plots “to destroy this country.”
Carson has reiterated in a Fox Business interview that he is against marijuana reform, as Trump considers a move to shift cannabis from Schedule I into Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.
Carson responded that, “with many things, common sense is the best guide.”
He said that putting facts out on the table would allow policy makers to make decisions on their basis. Citing a report he claimed found “dramatic increases in crime” among neighborhoods where cannabis dispensaries are located.
Carson explained that “it doesn’t need a lot to be intelligent to know” the results of putting these substances in communities, and making them easily accessible. “Also, people say, ‘Well, you know, when I was young, I smoked marijuana. I didn’t have many problems. “Recognize that marijuana in the 1960s and 1970s was less potent today than it used to be.”
I think politicians are trying to appease too many groups. They’re focusing on this constituency versus another. He said that they don’t like to anger anyone so try to keep the lines in balance. But this isn’t an issue of middle-of-the line. This is a life-and-death issue. There are dramatic improvements in quality of living for the people. And they have other options to keep themselves entertained.”
He continued to claim that U.S. “enemies are taking advantage” (of marijuana reform), pointing out “Chinese cartels” who come in to conduct business.
Carson: “I do not want to seem too paranoid. But if my goal was to destroy this nation, I’d love to see a significant portion of the populace just come to me and ask for their drugs, along with a check.”
Schedule III would not legalize cannabis federally. The Schedule III designation would acknowledge its medical uses and permit state-licensed cannabis businesses to claim federal tax deductions that they were previously barred from taking under IRS code 280E. This would lift some research restrictions that currently apply to Schedule I substances.
Fox Business interviewed the former HUD Secretary about a week before he published an opinion piece in which he spoke against the proposal to reschedule marijuana.
A former member of the Cabinet is now promoted, eight years after his criticisms about criminal drug enforcement’s impact on communities with low incomes.
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Meanwhile, Trump’s former press secretary Sean Spicer and his long-time advisor Roger Stone recently traded diverging takes on the prospect of the administration moving forward on marijuana rescheduling.
Stone separately made the case for reform in an op-ed for MEDCAN24 last month.
Retired boxer Mike Tyson, meanwhile, recently spoke about the need for federal marijuana rescheduling on a podcast hosted by the wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller—saying he’s expecting “good news” on the issue soon.
In June, the retired boxer also took to Fox News and delivered a message to the president, urging him to reschedule, and ultimately legalize, marijuana.
That interview came days after Tyson led a letter alongside other professional athletes and celebrities promoting cannabis reform that was sent to Trump, calling for rescheduling marijuana, expanding clemency and allowing licensed cannabis businesses to access the banking system.
Kellyanne conway, Trump’s former advisor who was in the inner circle of Trump and his family members for many years, is the person most responsible for the reclassification of marijuana.
Side Pocket Images. Photo by Chris Wallis.
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