WASHINGTON—After decades of shifting opinions that resemble a smoke ring caught in a ceiling fan, Donald Trump remains uncertain whether marijuana is America’s salvation, its doom, or simply another adoring supporter.
In 1990, Trump stunned drug warriors by suggesting we legalize all drugs to “win the war on drugs,” a policy that experts say could have led to both a massive drop in cartel violence and the world’s largest presidential snack budget.
By 2015, he had evolved—or perhaps devolved—into a states’ rights champion, declaring medical marijuana “great” while frowning at full legalization. This period ended abruptly when, in 2018, his Justice Department axed Obama-era protections for weed states, followed by a wink-and-nod promise to protect them anyway.
That same year, Trump signed the Farm Bill, legalizing hemp—marijuana’s sober, unfun cousin—while keeping cannabis on the naughty list. Critics described the move as “like freeing the broccoli but keeping the chocolate locked up.”
In 2024, he called marijuana legalization “inevitable” in Florida, a stance that political analysts believe was “entirely coincidental” to Florida being full of voters.
Now in 2025, Trump says he’s “looking at” reclassifying marijuana to Schedule III, so it can share a shelf with codeine cough syrup, while warning the public that weed “does bad for the children.” Sources confirmed he made this statement while standing between a casino and a vape shop.
Ultimately, Trump’s marijuana policy is an edible of uncertain potency—you don’t know when it’ll hit, how strong it’ll be, or whether you’ll just end up staring at the wall wondering if the president is trolling you.
