Donald Trump has again promoted his support of executing those who are currently selling illicit drugs. He calls it a very humane policy that will prevent deaths from overdoses and is “ready” for implementation.
His administration also announced that it would cut the drug usage in the U.S. 50 percent by the end of his term. He did this by starting a massive advertising campaign to inform Americans about the harmful effects of substance abuse.
South Carolina Governor, Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican from South Carolina, told Trump of his concern about fentanyl. The president then responded with his proposal for a capital punishment that would be extreme. He suggested following countries such as China who impose death sentences on those involved in the sale of illegal drugs.
Trump said while he is unsure if America as a country will be “ready” for the same policy at state level, but he encouraged Governors to make the case.
You will notice that all countries that have the death penalty do not have a drug problem. Trump said, “They execute drug dealers.” “And when you think about it, it’s very humane, because every drug dealer, on average they say, kills at least 500 people—not to mention the damage they do so many others. They kill a large number of people.”
While fentanyl, synthetic analogs, and other drugs are exported more often from China than they are sold in the domestic illicit market, it is unclear to what statistic the president refers when he states that nations who have executed drug traffickers do not “have a drug problem.” The public information on drug overdose and use in China is very limited.
Trump reiterated last week at an event “there are quite some [countries]—many in Asia—where they have the death penalty. “There’s absolutely no problem with drugs.”
They come here because of our softer policies. He added, “We give them a little slap and then they go out there and kill people.” “So we are going to—I mean, I don’t know if our country is ready for it. I’m ready: the death sentence if you deal drugs.
Meanwhile, the president said his administration will be launching a $100 to $200 million public service announcement campaign to deter drug use that sends the message that “when you take certain drugs, the drug fentanyl… it destroys your skin, it destroys your teeth, it destroys your brain, it destroys everything.”
Trump stated that he didn’t believe young kids would take drugs after watching the commercial. This is a bold statement but I believe we can let it go. [drug use by] “50 percent by this:”
Trump promised a similar massive advertising campaign during his first tenure to tackle illicit drug usage. At the time, the White House stated that the campaign would use “multi-channels to reach youth, including digital platforms and social media as well as influencers on television, among others.”
Trump’s proposal to impose capital punishment on those who traffic in illegal drugs is not new. This is part of an uncoordinated drug policy that Trump developed. He promotes harsh penalties for some drug-related crime, yet he has used pro-marijuana policies. Decades ago, he said, “legalize the drugs, to beat the drugs war.”
Trump was confused in 2023 when confronted by the reality that his plan to implement the death sentence on drug traffickers, would have sentencing a woman whom he had pardoned during his presidency and promoted as a prime example of criminal justice reform.
Alice Johnson has been chosen by Trump to fill a newly created role within his administration, the “pardons czar.”
Johnson was granted a presidential pardon by Trump in his final term of office, 2018 as he served a sentence for life on charges related to cocaine trafficking. Trump pardoned Johnson in 2020.
Alice spent 22 years in prison, Trump said. “Today it’s unlikely she would be charged with anything.” Trump claimed that Alice spent 22-years in prison. She had 22 more years to serve,” Trump said. Can you believe it? It was one of my best pardons!”
In the context of a number of top-level Cabinet nominations and Senate confirms of Administration officials with mixed records in drug policy reforms, advocates and stakeholders were closely following to see if Trump would push for marijuana policies changes.
For example, Trump recently nominated a vociferously anti-cannabis official to serve as the lead attorney at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), drawing praise from prohibitionists.
HHS has delayed the process of reclassifying cannabis, despite the fact that the Biden Administration had already recommended it following a thorough scientific review. This has raised questions as to the possible influence of newly appointed administrative officials.
HHS’s General Counsel is responsible, amongst other things, for giving legal advice, understanding regulatory policies, and supervising litigation within the agency. Stuart could therefore be vital in future interpretations made by agencies of the Controlled Substances Act when it comes marijuana’s status.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS secretary recently confirmed by the Senate, was vocal in his previous support of marijuana legalization.
Despite that stated support, however, following his confirmation Kennedy said last week that he is “worried about” the normalization of high-potency marijuana and that he feels its use can have “really catastrophic impacts” on people, but that state-level legalization can facilitate research into its harms and benefits.
The comments came on the same day that Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) said he received a commitment from Kennedy to “follow the science on the harms of marijuana.”
Ricketts already revealed that earlier this month he had spoken to Kennedy regarding the “importance” of preventing “the expansion of marijuana.” He now says, “RFK told me he was going to follow the scientific evidence on marijuana’s harms.”
Despite Kennedy’s history of advocating for cannabis legalization, he said last month that he will defer to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on marijuana rescheduling in his new role.
This could make rescheduling more difficult. This month, Trump officially named his pick to lead DEA—selecting a decades-long agency veteran and top Virginia official who’s voiced concerns about the dangers of marijuana and linked its use to higher suicide risk among youth.
Separately, anti-marijuana Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) told MEDCAN24 recently that it’s “definitely” time to have a talk with Kennedy to convince him that “marijuana is harmful” and that the way to make Americans healthy is by “limiting” its use.
Prior to Kennedy’s written responses to members of the Senate Finance Committee that gave him initial approval, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) pressed him to reiterate his position on marijuana legalization amid the ongoing effort to federally reschedule cannabis.
A political action committee founded by former Vice President Mike Pence had attempted to undermine the confirmation Kennedy as HHS secretary—in part by drawing attention to his support for marijuana and psychedelics reform, as well as his personal history with substance misuse.
Senator John Fetterman Distributes Petition to Legalize Marijuana at Federal Level
The photo is courtesy Wikimedia.