Donald Trump is reportedly weighing a significant shift in US marijuana laws, a move that could reshape the multibillion-dollar cannabis industry and relax long-standing federal restrictions.
At present, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law — the strictest category — meaning it is deemed to have a “high potential for abuse” and “no currently accepted medical use.” This places it in the same legal bracket as heroin, LSD and ecstasy.
Despite this, 24 states and the District of Columbia have fully legalised marijuana, while many others permit its use strictly for medical purposes. The clash between federal prohibition and state-level legalisation has left the industry navigating a complex legal and financial landscape.
According to a Wall Street Journal report published on Friday (8 August), Trump revealed his interest in re-examining cannabis’s federal status at a high-priced fundraiser at his New Jersey golf club earlier this month. Tickets for the event were reportedly $1 million each.