White House officials say they have “no plans” to take action on proposals for reforming marijuana laws that Donald Trump had endorsed during the presidential campaign. The president tried to include cannabis banking legislation in the government funding bill he signed late last year, before taking office.
Trump’s support, just weeks before Election Day, for marijuana rescheduling and industry banking, as well as a Florida legalization initiative, which ultimately failed, surprised many. Trump has not spoken out publicly on the subject since inauguration.
In a CNN report that was published on February 2, a White House official said “at this time, no action is considered” in relation to cannabis.
The statement indicates that Trump will consider action later, but it won’t be a top priority in his first term. He is focused on advancing an agenda mainly focused on immigration, spending on government and foreign policy.
CNN reported, however, that sources who were familiar with the negotiations confirmed that Trump’s transition team and Congress did try to convince Congress that a protection measure for banks working with cannabis-related businesses that are legal in their state was included as part of a continuing resolution that kept government funding this December.
Last session, advocates and stakeholders disappointed that a banking reform bill which passed through the Senate Committee in 2023 but never reached the floor of the chamber was not voted on. This despite it being described by the Democratic Leadership that controlled the chamber as a priority.
Trump can certainly exert his influence over the GOP-majority Congress in order to push the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (SAFE). The executive has more direct authority in the ongoing rescheduling of the process. This was started by the former president Joe Biden, but it is stalled because the Drug Enforcement Administration hearings about the proposed rule have been complicated.
Meanwhile, although Trump himself has not publicly spoken about marijuana policy since taking office for his second term, the White House said in a recent fact sheet about an executive order he signed that the move to decriminalize marijuana in Washington, D.C. is an example of a “failed” policy that “opened the door to disorder.”
In an attempt to capitalize on Trump’s expressed support for rescheduling of appointments, stakeholders are appealing to the President by framing it as a support to veterans and to patients. This is done in the hope that the president will be motivated to push for reforms from the Oval Office. The thinking is that a directive from Trump will not be ignored, no matter what other members of his administration think.
To that point, a marijuana industry-funded political action committee (PAC) is attacking Biden’s cannabis policy record as well as the nation of Canada, with new ads promoting sometimes misleading claims about the last administration while making the case that Trump can deliver on reform.
As a background, cannabis advocates and stakeholder are closely watching Trump’s Cabinet picks. Many of the key members have been confirmed by the Senate or they are preparing to be confirmed. They also hold mixed records in the area of marijuana.
Sara Carter, Trump’s nominee for the position of White House Drug Czar, called medical marijuana an “amazing” option to treat seriously ill people. She also said that she has no “problem” with its legalization even though she may not agree personally with it.
The Senate has confirmed the choice of Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney-General. Bondi refused to reveal how she would handle key marijuana-policy issues during her confirmation hearings. As attorney general of Florida, Bondi opposed the legalization of medical marijuana.
Adding to the ongoing uncertainty around the fate of the rescheduling proposal Biden initiated, Trump’s nominee to lead DEA, Terrance Cole, has previously voiced concerns about the dangers of marijuana and linked its use to higher suicide risk among youth.
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.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was vocal in his previous support of marijuana legalization, contrary to Mike Stuart the HHS nominee for general counsel, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. the Senate confirmed secretary of HHS.
Kennedy, despite his stated support for marijuana, said that after being confirmed in February he was “worried” about the “normalization” of potent cannabis and felt that its use could have “really devastating impacts” on individuals. However, he believes that legalization at state level can help facilitate research to determine its benefits and harms.
Despite Kennedy’s history of advocating for cannabis legalization, he said in February that he will defer to DEA on marijuana rescheduling in his new role.
Trump also nominated former Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) to head up the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—a choice that raises questions about how the agency might navigate marijuana issues given his prior record of voting against medical cannabis access for military veterans during his time in Congress.
Alice Johnson, who was sentenced to prison for a drug conviction during the first year of his presidency, has been appointed as the “pardon-czar”, responsible for future clemency.
Maine lawmakers introduce a bill to legalize the possession and use of psilocybin by adults