Trump Considers Changing Marijuana Regs – Do We Need More Potheads?

President Donald Trump is openly considering a major change in federal marijuana policy, a move that could shift the drug from its current Schedule I classification — reserved for substances with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse” — to Schedule III, which is for drugs with a “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence” such as ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone. While this would not legalize marijuana for recreational use nationwide, it would dramatically ease restrictions on the cannabis industry, allowing businesses to deduct expenses and expanding the ability to conduct federally approved medical research.

Critics warn that such a change could have far-reaching negative consequences, increasing addiction rates, causing more brain damage, and worsening public health outcomes. The question now facing both the administration and the public is whether loosening these restrictions will solve problems — or create new ones.

Trump’s Deliberations

Speaking to reporters in the White House briefing room on August 11, Trump said his administration was still in the early stages of the decision-making process. “We’re looking at reclassification and we’ll make a determination over the next — I would say over the next few weeks, and that determination hopefully will be the right one. It’s very complicated subject,” he explained. He acknowledged hearing “great things having to do with medical” use, but also “bad things having to do with just about everything else.”

Trump had previously indicated openness to the idea, telling donors at his Bedminster, New Jersey country club that moving marijuana to a lower classification could “recognize its medical value” and make research easier. However, he has also expressed concern that such a move could send mixed messages at a time when his administration is emphasizing public safety and combating crime.

Why the Change Is Being Considered

This push comes amid heavy lobbying by the cannabis industry, which has spent “hundreds of millions of dollars” to influence policymakers, according to Kevin Sabet, founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and a former White House drug policy adviser. The potential financial benefits for the industry are significant. Currently, federal law prohibits businesses involved in trafficking Schedule I or II drugs from deducting normal business expenses on their taxes. Reclassifying marijuana as Schedule III would lift that restriction, giving the industry a substantial tax advantage.

Supporters also claim reclassification would open the door to more rigorous medical studies. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime supporter of marijuana legalization, argued that such a shift “would enable critical research” into potential medical uses. Advocates say this could lead to better dosing guidance, improved product quality control, and more effective treatments for conditions like chronic pain, PTSD, and certain cancers.

The Risks of Loosening Restrictions

Opponents argue that the risks of normalizing marijuana use far outweigh the potential benefits. Heavy marijuana use has already reached record highs in the United States. A 2024 study in the journal Addiction found that daily or near-daily marijuana use has increased fifteen-fold since 1992, with an estimated 17.7 million people using marijuana every day or almost every day – surpassing the number of heavy alcohol drinkers.

Research shows that long-term or heavy use can cause serious harm to brain function, leading to memory problems, impaired learning, and in some cases, psychotic disorders. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has linked heavy cannabis use to psychosis, lung irritation, chronic bronchitis, and cardiovascular issues. In severe cases, it can trigger Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, a condition that causes persistent vomiting which stops only when marijuana use ends.

Critics warn that reclassification would be perceived as a federal “safety endorsement” of marijuana, encouraging more frequent use and lowering the public’s perception of risk. As biomedical scientist Raphael Cuomo of the University of California, San Diego noted, “Risk perception often moves faster than policy,” meaning people may interpret the change as proof the drug is harmless before the medical community fully understands its long-term effects.

Conservative Pushback

Within Trump’s own political base, the idea is sparking sharp divisions. Some prominent MAGA figures are staunchly opposed. Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, said on X, “I hope this doesn’t happen,” warning that marijuana already “overwhelms public spaces.” Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire stated bluntly that “no country of potheads has ever thrived.” Jack Posobiec cautioned against normalizing cannabis in family-friendly environments.

These critics argue that marijuana use runs counter to MAGA values of hard work, discipline, and traditional masculinity. Podcaster Michael Knowles framed it as a cultural issue, saying conservatives “prefer traditional pleasures” like tobacco or alcohol, calling marijuana “the liberal intoxicant of choice.”

Supporters Within the Movement

Other MAGA-aligned voices see the potential change differently. Influencer Rogan O’Handley believes reclassification would benefit veterans and provide an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. Conservative commentator CJ Pearson said Trump’s openness “shows he’s listening” to people who have experienced genuine medicinal benefits. This faction argues that allowing more research could separate fact from myth and lead to better, safer medical treatments.

A High-Stakes Decision

The administration’s choice will not only affect marijuana policy but also signal broader priorities on public health, law enforcement, and economic policy. Reclassifying marijuana would shift regulatory oversight to the Food and Drug Administration, which would then face the challenge of enforcing quality standards for a product with inconsistent potency and purity.

For Trump, the decision remains “very complicated.” He has promised a final determination within weeks, but for many critics, the bottom line is simple: making marijuana easier to obtain will almost certainly lead to more use, more addiction, and more brain damage.

The question they are asking is the same one that underlies this debate — do we really need more potheads?

NP Editor: Let me ask the question a different way. Are we really ready to give up on 17 million people allowing them to live lesser lives because of an addiction? And how many more in future generations?

And BTW, in 1963, 42% of people smoked cigarettes – lots of lung cancer but no brain damage. Think about, if the percentages rise, of over 130 million people suffering from impaired thought processes from marijuana.

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