Trump marijuana policy/ Trump supports marijuana reform/ Kamala Harris marijuana stance/ Trump backs cannabis reclassification/ marijuana Schedule III Trump Harris/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ Donald Trump has indicated support for reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, bringing his position in line with his 2024 Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris. Both major-party presidential candidates now back significant cannabis reform, reflecting growing public support for legalization. Trump’s move comes as the DEA reviews a potential reclassification that could shift marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.
Trump and Harris Align on Marijuana Reform: Quick Looks
- Trump supports reclassifying marijuana to a less dangerous Schedule III drug.
- His position aligns with Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, a cannabis reform advocate.
- Both major-party candidates now back significant federal cannabis reform.
- Trump criticized Harris for past marijuana prosecutions, aiming to boost support among nonwhite voters.
- The DEA is currently reviewing marijuana’s federal classification, with a decision possibly deferred to the next administration.
- Public support for legalization is at an all-time high, with 70% of adults in favor.
Trump supports reclassifying Marijuana, aligns with Harris on Cannabis reform
Deep Look:
In a significant shift, Donald Trump has expressed support for reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, aligning with the position of his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, ahead of the 2024 presidential election. This marks the first time that both major-party candidates back significant cannabis reform, reflecting broad public support for legalization and positioning marijuana policy as a key issue in the campaign.
Trump’s endorsement of cannabis reclassification came in a social media post on Sunday, where he vowed to “continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug.” He also indicated his support for a Florida ballot initiative that would allow adults to purchase marijuana for recreational use.
The endorsement aligns him with a position long held by Harris, who has called it “absurd” that marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I drug, a category reserved for substances like heroin and LSD. Harris has supported cannabis decriminalization during her vice presidency, though her record as district attorney in San Francisco and attorney general of California included the prosecution of numerous marijuana-related offenses, a point of contention among her critics.
Trump’s new stance on marijuana could open a line of attack against Harris. As she faced criticism during her presidential bid from figures like Tulsi Gabbard, Trump may use her prosecutorial record on the debate stage to paint her as hypocritical on cannabis reform, especially given the disproportionate impact drug prosecutions have had on nonwhite communities in the U.S. This could be a strategic move for Trump to appeal to nonwhite voters, particularly men, ahead of the 2024 election.
The cannabis issue has gained traction as support for legalization grows nationwide. A Gallup poll from 2022 showed that 70% of American adults favor legalization, with even stronger support among young voters, a critical demographic in key battleground states. In light of this growing public demand, both Trump and Harris have embraced reform measures that would soften federal regulations on marijuana.
Trump’s backing of marijuana reform comes as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is actively reviewing the federal classification of cannabis. Following a request from President Joe Biden, the DEA is considering a move to downgrade marijuana from its current Schedule I status to Schedule III, placing it in the same category as ketamine and anabolic steroids. This change would represent a significant shift in federal drug policy, though it stops short of full legalization.
Under current federal law, Schedule I drugs are classified as having a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, while Schedule III substances are deemed to have lower abuse potential and some medical applications. A reclassification to Schedule III would still fall short of legalizing recreational marijuana use across the country but would mark a historic change in how the U.S. regulates cannabis at the federal level.
Despite the growing push for reform, opposition remains. Some advocates argue that reclassifying marijuana to Schedule III doesn’t go far enough and would fail to address the broader goal of full legalization. Additionally, more than a dozen state attorneys general, led by the group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, have voiced concerns about moving too quickly without sufficient data on the potential impacts of widespread legalization.
Trump’s pivot on marijuana is noteworthy given his past stance. During his 2016 campaign, he suggested that marijuana policy should be left to individual states, a more hands-off approach that allowed the issue to simmer without major federal changes. Once in office, however, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions repealed an Obama-era policy that discouraged federal crackdowns on marijuana businesses in states where the drug had been legalized. This created uncertainty in the cannabis industry and halted momentum for broader legalization efforts.
As the 2024 election approaches, the issue of marijuana reform is likely to remain a focal point, with both Trump and Harris signaling their openness to changes that align with public sentiment. The DEA’s decision, expected during or after the next administration, will further determine how U.S. drug policy evolves in the coming years.
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