Trump Sparks Debate With Comments On Reclassifying Weed
President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that his administration will decide “over the next few weeks” whether to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug — a move that has ignited sharp debate among conservatives, independents, and younger voters.
Speaking from the White House Briefing Room, Trump called the issue “a very complicated subject,” noting that while he has heard positive accounts of medical marijuana, he has also heard “bad things” about its broader societal impact. “Some people hate the whole concept of marijuana because if it does bad for the children, it does bad for people older than children,” Trump said.
President Trump on marijuana: “We’re looking at reclassification and we’ll make a determination over the next few weeks.” pic.twitter.com/GTiYKogmuA
— CSPAN (@cspan) August 11, 2025
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Trump floated the idea at a $1 million-a-plate fundraiser at his New Jersey golf club, attended by top marijuana industry figures like Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve. The proposal under consideration would reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug — reducing federal restrictions without fully legalizing it.
While dozens of states have legalized marijuana in some form, federal law still treats it as a Schedule I drug with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Schedule III would place it alongside drugs with “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”
The Biden administration had explored the same reclassification but left office without completing it. Trump himself backed recreational marijuana in Florida last year, putting him at odds with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. That state measure drew 56% support, falling short of the 60% required.
Trump allies view the move as an “80-20 cultural issue” that could help Republicans with independents and younger voters heading into the 2026 midterms. Marijuana companies have poured millions into political advocacy, including to the American Rights and Reform PAC, which promotes medical cannabis reform. Polling presented to Trump’s team reportedly shows more than 80% of independents favor reclassification.
“This is not calling for decriminalization or legalization but simply knocking it down a few notches on the criminal scale,” Trump campaign adviser Alex Bruesewitz told the WSJ.
But the idea has met strong pushback from social conservatives. Daily Wire host Matt Walsh blasted marijuana normalization as “a disaster for the United States,” accusing pro-legalization cities of declining “basically overnight.” He argued the government should be doing “exactly the opposite” of what Trump is weighing.
Breaking Points host Saagar Enjeti called widespread marijuana use “a disaster” tied to social decay, while conservative commentator Steve Cortes warned it “rewards some of the worst elements of society” and saps productivity, particularly among young men.
Despite the split within his base, Trump appears committed to keeping marijuana reclassification on the table, framing it as part of his broader cultural and electoral strategy.