Trump weighs marijuana reclassification, says decision coming soon
President Donald Trump signaled Monday that his administration is considering whether to reclassify marijuana under federal law, hinting that a decision could be made within weeks, Politico reported.
Speaking at a press briefing, Trump described the topic as complex and said he has heard both praise for its medical uses and criticism of its broader impact. He stopped short of confirming any change, saying only that his team is reviewing the matter.
His remarks followed a Wall Street Journal report that suggested the president was considering lowering the federal classification of marijuana, a move the Biden administration had mulled but ultimately avoided.
Trump: Issue is complicated
“It’s a very complicated subject base,” Trump told reporters, noting he has “heard great things” about medical marijuana and “bad things” about nearly everything else related to it. The statement left the door open but did not commit to action.
If reclassified as a Schedule III substance, marijuana would still be illegal at the federal level but subject to less severe penalties. That change could ease restrictions without opening the door to full legalization.
The conversation has stirred debate inside Trump’s own political base, where some allies are openly pushing back against the idea.
Conservative allies voice concerns
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a vocal Trump supporter, made his opposition clear over the weekend. In a Saturday post on X, he said the smell of marijuana is already pervasive in public spaces.
“We need to protect public spaces for kids,” Kirk wrote. “Everything already smells like weed, which is ridiculous. Let’s make it harder to ruin public spaces, not easier.” His stance reflects the tension between supporting limited government and maintaining community standards.
Trump did not directly respond to Kirk’s criticism, instead emphasizing that his administration would consider all sides before acting. The careful phrasing suggested a balancing act between law-and-order priorities and shifting public attitudes toward marijuana use.
Past support for limited legalization
Before this latest discussion, Trump had publicly supported a Florida ballot measure to legalize marijuana statewide. Despite his backing, voters rejected the measure, leaving the state’s current laws in place.
That endorsement signaled a willingness to move on marijuana policy when paired with what he calls “smart regulations” to control the market. It also aligned with his broader theme of reducing what he sees as unnecessary criminal penalties for nonviolent offenses.
In a Truth Social post, Trump argued that it is time to end arrests and incarceration for small amounts of marijuana meant for personal use. His comments placed emphasis on regulation and consumer safety over prohibition.
Focus on safety, regulation
“We must also implement smart regulations, while providing access for adults, to safe, tested product,” he wrote. That message struck a middle ground—rejecting the extremes of both full prohibition and unregulated legalization.
In the same post, Trump suggested that he would review marijuana’s medical applications alongside the benefits of reclassifying it to Schedule III. That review process could influence the administration’s decision in the coming weeks.
Whether the move will win over skeptics like Kirk remains to be seen. For now, Trump appears to be walking a fine line between his law-and-order image and a pragmatic approach to cannabis policy.