Many had high hopes for what another term might mean for cannabis. During the 2024 election, Trump expressed support for cannabis rescheduling and patient access, and even said he intended to vote for the legalization measure on the Florida ballot. That last comment was likely a jab at his former Republican ticket rival, Governor Ron DeSantis, who led the campaign against the initiative.
Campaign talk doesn’t always translate into executive action; despite the fanfare, cannabis policy hasn’t just stalled—it has been largely ignored in favor of other priorities. That’s not entirely surprising; after all, the President doesn’t have the power to legalize cannabis or provide tax relief without Congressional action unilaterally. Still, there were plenty of moves Trump could have made in his first 100 days through executive orders and key appointments—unfortunately, nothing favoring medical cannabis.
First 100 Days Recap
APPOINTMENTS
Attorney General – Pam Bondi
Pam Bondi ran a campaign against expanding Florida’s medical cannabis law as State AG. As Florida’s Attorney General, Bondi opposed efforts to expand medical cannabis law and served on President Trump’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. That commission rejected evidence suggesting that medical cannabis is associated with reductions in opioid use and mortality and expressed concern that access to cannabis could worsen the Opioid Crisis.
DEA Administrator – Terrance Cole
Terrance Cole has not exactly been a voice of progress. His social media feeds have many comments about the harms of cannabis. During his confirmation hearing, he did not say where he stood on cannabis scheduling but stated that he would make the rescheduling process “one of his first priorities.”
EXECUTIVE ORDERS
So far, none of the 141 Executive Orders issued in Trump’s first 100 days have addressed medical cannabis. That’s despite the fact that he could have:
- Stopped evictions of medical cannabis patients in federal housing
- Allowed VA doctors to recommend cannabis
- Stopped drug testing federal employees for cannabis
CANNABIS RESCHEDULING & DEA HEARINGS
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE HAS TO WORK WITH CONGRESS?
On July 10, 2024, 25 Republican Senators and Congressmen sent a letter to AG Merrick Garland condemning the rescheduling process as “politically motivated and unsupported by science.”
Several of those signatories now hold major leadership positions in the 119th Congress:
- John Thune (R-SD) – Senate GOP Leadership
- Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) – GOP Policy Committee Chair
- James Lankford (R-OK) – GOP Policy Committee Vice-Chair
- Jerry Moran (R-KS) – New Chair of Appropriations, CJS Subcommittee
And now chair key committees on medical cannabis policy, including Agriculture, Health, and Justice appropriations. If President Trump wants to get anything done with Congress, he may be willing to trade in his campaign support for medical cannabis for other priorities in his agenda.
PROJECT 2025: A CAUTIONARY BLUEPRINT
While President Trump claims he hasn’t read Project 2025, it’s clear that his administration is operating in alignment with it. There are troubling signs that policies outlined in the Project could be used to crack down on medical cannabis under the guise of restoring the “rule of law.” Consider these excerpts:
“The DOJ can provide critical technical support for local law enforcement and play a critical agenda-setting role.” (p. 548)
“Use applicable federal laws to bring federal charges against criminals when local jurisdictions wrongfully allow them to evade responsibility.” (p. 553)
“Rigorously prosecute as much interstate drug activity as possible, including simple possession of distributable quantities.” (p. 554)
In plain terms, this could mean renewed raids, prosecutions, and interference in state-legal medical cannabis programs.
RETURN TO “DRUG WAR” RHETORIC
After a decade of retirement, the “War on Drugs” is back.
President Donald Trump: “We are launching a renewed War on Drugs to eliminate the scourge of fentanyl and restore safety to our communities.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi: “The War on Drugs is back, and this time we’re taking the fight directly to the cartels fueling the opioid crisis.”
DEA Interim Administrator Derek Maltz: “We’re building an international coalition—an army of good—to wage the War on Drugs against these criminal organizations.”
WHAT WE HOPE FOR THE REST OF TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY
It’s not too late to get it right. If the President truly supports medical cannabis, here’s what we urge him to do next:
- Stop evictions of medical cannabis patients in federal housing.
- Allow VA doctors to recommend cannabis.
- End drug testing of federal employees for cannabis.
- Reinstate the Cole Memo to guide federal cannabis enforcement.
- Create the Office of Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoid Control (OMC) under HHS.
- Ask Congress for comprehensive medical cannabis legislation.
WHAT SHOULD MEDICAL CANNABIS ADVOCATES DO?
What we have always done: Speak up until federal policy reflects science, compassion, and the will of the people. Sign up for alerts: www.safeaccessnow.org/email-updates
