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Wait, Did Donald Trump Really Just Say He Supports a Bill That Would End the Federal Ban on Marijuana?
Marijuana users are both thrilled and confused on June 8, after President Donald Trump revealed that he will likely support a bill that would end the federal ban on cannabis. The move is extra-surprising considering the aggressively anti-weed stance of his attorney general, Jeff Sessions.
“I support Sen. Gardner. I know exactly what he’s doing,” Trump told reporters when asked whether he would support the bill filed by the CO senator in conjunction with MA Sen. Elizabeth Warren (who Trump has often referred to as Pochahontas). “We’re looking at it. But I probably will end up supporting that, yes.”
Right now, marijuana is legal for recreational use by people over the age of 21 in eight states, and medically legal in another 21. However, cannabis is still federally recognized as a Schedule I illegal drug, alongside sunstances like heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and peyote, and considered to have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” despite studies that show it can work to relieve anxiety, chronic pain, and even cancer symptoms. For the record, cocaine and meth are Schedule II and considered less dangerous.
This new bill would change that. Named the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act, it would “ensure that each state has the right to determine for itself the best approach to marijuana within its borders.” That means that while weed will remain illegal in some states, the businesses that sell it in legal states will no longer have to worry about being raided by the feds, and users won’t have to fear prosecution.
Perhaps Trump was inspired by his talk with Kim Kardashian about prison reform. Many people have served (or are still serving) major time in prison for non-violent offenses relating to marijuana, which is costing the country millions of dollars. Others theorize that Trump was angry at Sessions (who still wants to see marijuana users behind bars), and got back at him by saying he supported this bill. Either way, only time will tell if he actually follows through.
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