MAGA leaders are pressuring President Donald Trump to reconsider his interest in loosening federal cannabis restrictions, warning that doing so could damage American society.
Currently, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I substance, grouped with LSD and heroin, meaning the federal government considers it highly addictive and without medical benefit. If it were shifted to Schedule III, however, the change would open up new opportunities for scientific research and give the legal market room to grow beyond its current fragmented state-by-state system.
Trump has publicly acknowledged that he is weighing a reclassification in the coming weeks, although he expressed mixed feelings. He told reporters that while he had heard positive accounts of cannabis’ medical use, especially for pain management, he had also heard troubling reports about its downsides.
Back in 2024, he also supported a Florida proposal to legalize cannabis statewide, though the measure did not pass.
Concerns within the MAGA base intensified following a Wall Street Journal report that the president had been in discussions with marijuana industry leaders, some of whom have contributed millions to his political organizations.
Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire claimed that no society has flourished under widespread marijuana use and argued that cities with legalization quickly decline. Jack Posobiec, another popular MAGA media figure, said he doesn’t want his children exposed to the smell of marijuana in public spaces, insisting that legalizing it erodes community standards.
Their arguments draw on deeper themes within the MAGA worldview. The movement often ties its vision of America to a strict sense of morality, discipline, and traditional masculinity. Cannabis use, in this frame, is seen as lazy and unproductive—the opposite of the hardworking, rule-following citizen they idealize.
There are also political undertones. Conservative commentators argue that cannabis is viewed as a progressive or left-leaning indulgence, while alcohol and tobacco remain culturally tied to conservative traditions. Michael Knowles of The Daily Wire argued that conservatives still value enjoyment but prefer it through “classic” substances rather than what he calls liberal habits.
However, not everyone in MAGA shares this view. Many in the movement are skeptical of large pharmaceutical companies and supportive of alternative treatments for conditions like PTSD. Conservative influencer Rogan O’Handley noted that reclassifying cannabis would reduce the power of “Big Pharma” and the prison industry.
Another supporter, CJ Pearson, argued that Trump’s consideration of the idea reflects his willingness to listen to veterans who credit cannabis with improving their lives.
Cannabis entities like Canopy Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: CGC) (TSX: WEED) will be following these debates since the discussions could shape the policy direction that the administration chooses to implement over the coming years.
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