In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump has indicated a potential shift in his long-held stance on marijuana decriminalization. During a recent press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump suggested he is open to reconsidering the decriminalization of cannabis, acknowledging the growing trend of marijuana decriminalization across the United States.
“As we legalize it, I start to agree a lot more because, you know, it’s being legalized all over the country. Florida has something coming up. I’ll be making a statement about that fairly soon,” Trump stated, according to a report from Forbes. His comments represent a significant departure from his previous hardline approach to drug policy and show a potential openness to marijuana decriminalization.
Trump’s views shifted when a reporter asked about Biden’s efforts to reclassify marijuana under federal law. Reflecting on the issue, Trump said, “It’s hard to have people in jail for something that’s decriminalized. There’s obviously a lot of sentiment to change that.” He didn’t announce a policy shift, but his remarks showed growing openness to national decriminalization.
As president, Trump took a hard stance on marijuana. He upheld federal prohibition and resisted state decriminalization. In 2018, he rescinded the Cole Memorandum, which had protected states with legal cannabis. His administration also tried to remove protections for state medical marijuana laws in his 2021 budget.
Despite this, Trump sometimes considered alternatives. In 2018, he mildly supported the STATES Act, a bipartisan bill. The act aimed to give states more control over cannabis regulation without federal interference. Though the bill didn’t pass, Trump didn’t fully reject reform.
By 2024, Trump’s comments suggest a new direction. As public sentiment shifts toward decriminalization, even staunch conservatives reconsider their positions. Trump’s recent remarks could signal changes in his campaign and policies.
Whether these hints lead to concrete changes remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: the national conversation on marijuana is evolving, and Trump is paying attention.
