The White House has announced that it currently has “no action” planned on marijuana reform proposals that President Donald Trump supported during his campaign. Despite this, Trump reportedly sought to include cannabis banking legislation in a government funding bill late last year, prior to his taking office, according to a recent report.
In the weeks leading up to Election Day, Trump surprised many by expressing support for marijuana rescheduling, access to banking for the cannabis industry, and a Florida legalization initiative that ultimately did not pass. However, since his inauguration, he has not publicly addressed the issue of marijuana reform.
A White House official informed CNN that “no action is being considered at this time” regarding cannabis issues. This statement suggests that while marijuana reform is not currently a priority for the administration, it could be considered in the future. Trump’s focus for the early part of his second term is primarily on immigration, government spending, and foreign policy.
Interestingly, CNN reported that sources close to negotiations indicated that Trump and his transition team attempted to persuade Congress to include a measure that would protect banks working with state-legal cannabis businesses in a continuing resolution aimed at funding the government last December.
Advocates and stakeholders expressed disappointment after a standalone banking bill moved through a Senate committee in 2023 but failed to receive a floor vote. This was despite Democratic leadership in the Senate labeling the reform as a legislative priority at that time.
As for potential administrative action on cannabis, Trump could leverage his influence over the GOP majority in Congress to promote the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act. However, his direct authority lies more with the ongoing rescheduling process initiated by former President Joe Biden, which has faced delays due to complications with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hearings on the proposed rule.
Although Trump has not publicly commented on marijuana policy since beginning his second term, the White House highlighted in a recent fact sheet about an executive order he signed that the move to decriminalize marijuana in Washington, D.C. is an example of a “failed” policy that has “opened the door to disorder.”
Stakeholders remain hopeful that Trump’s previous support for rescheduling could motivate him to advocate for reform, particularly emphasizing its benefits for veterans and patients. They believe that if Trump were to push for this reform, it would be hard for other officials in his administration to ignore his mandate.
In the meantime, a marijuana industry-funded political action committee (PAC) is challenging President Biden’s cannabis policy record with new advertisements that sometimes present misleading claims about the previous administration while suggesting that Trump could effectively deliver on reform.
Advocates are also closely monitoring Trump’s cabinet appointments, especially those of key officials who are either confirmed or in the process of confirmation and have mixed records on cannabis issues. For instance, Trump’s nominee for the next White House drug czar, Sara Carter, has called medical marijuana a “fantastic” treatment option for seriously ill patients and stated she does not oppose legalization, despite her personal views on the policy.
