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 \u2014 reserved for substances with \u201cno currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse\u201d \u2014 to Schedule III, which is for drugs with a \u201cmoderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u2014 or create new ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. \u201cWe\u2019re looking at reclassification and we\u2019ll make a determination over the next \u2014 I would say over the next few weeks, and that determination hopefully will be the right one. It\u2019s very complicated subject,\u201d he explained. He acknowledged hearing \u201cgreat things having to do with medical\u201d use, but also \u201cbad things having to do with just about everything else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u201crecognize its medical value\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This push comes amid heavy lobbying by the cannabis industry, which has spent \u201chundreds of millions of dollars\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u201cwould enable critical research\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics warn that reclassification would be perceived as a federal \u201csafety endorsement\u201d of marijuana, encouraging more frequent use and lowering the public\u2019s perception of risk. As biomedical scientist Raphael Cuomo of the University of California, San Diego noted, \u201cRisk perception often moves faster than policy,\u201d meaning people may interpret the change as proof the drug is harmless before the medical community fully understands its long-term effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Within Trump\u2019s 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, \u201cI hope this doesn\u2019t happen,\u201d warning that marijuana already \u201coverwhelms public spaces.\u201d Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire stated bluntly that \u201cno country of potheads has ever thrived.\u201d Jack Posobiec cautioned against normalizing cannabis in family-friendly environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 \u201cprefer traditional pleasures\u201d like tobacco or alcohol, calling marijuana \u201cthe liberal intoxicant of choice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other MAGA-aligned voices see the potential change differently. Influencer Rogan O\u2019Handley believes reclassification would benefit veterans and provide an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. Conservative commentator CJ Pearson said Trump\u2019s openness \u201cshows he\u2019s listening\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The administration\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Trump, the decision remains \u201cvery complicated.\u201d 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The question they are asking is the same one that underlies this debate \u2014 do we really need more potheads?<\/p>\n\n\n\n NP Editor: <\/strong> 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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 \u2014 reserved for substances with \u201cno currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse\u201d \u2014 to Schedule III, which is for drugs with a \u201cmoderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence\u201d such as ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone. While this would not legalize marijuana for recreational use nationwide, it would […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,21,22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime","category-threat-to-america","category-trump"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/potheardadsf.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6397"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6397\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6398,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6397\/revisions\/6398"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nakedpolitics.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Conservative Pushback<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Supporters Within the Movement<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A High-Stakes Decision<\/h4>\n\n\n\n