Trump's cannabis rescheduling order appears to be a case of smoke and mirrors, as the move has sparked resistance from within the administration and conservative groups. The decision, made by President Donald Trump in December, aimed to fast-track the rescheduling of cannabis, potentially opening doors for research and reducing bureaucratic hurdles for businesses and consumers.
However, advocates for rescheduling say they expect it to take years or even decades to resolve. Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), described the process as designed to be drawn out, citing historical precedent and the existence of mechanisms within the administrative process that allow parties to prolong it indefinitely.
The move has been met with skepticism from former allies of Trump, including his former Attorney General Bill Barr, who is now part of the legal team for an anti-cannabis group. Congressional Republicans are also pushing to keep cannabis on Schedule I, and Attorney General Pam Bondi has expressed her opposition to rescheduling.
Despite the president's directive, the reality on the ground remains that cannabis-related arrests still account for a significant portion of drug-related arrests nationwide. In many states with legalized adult-use cannabis, cannabis arrests continue to be a major issue, particularly in Illinois.
Critics argue that rescheduling is not enough and that descheduling – or removing cannabis from Schedule I altogether – would provide a more effective solution. Corey Coleman, co-founder of Sky High Brands and founder of the Iowa Hemp Coalition, highlighted the arbitrary nature of cannabis and hemp regulation, citing the need for a more streamlined approach to address the issue.
As the process moves forward, it remains unclear whether Trump's order will have any meaningful impact on the rescheduling of cannabis. For now, it appears that the fight over this issue is likely to be a long and contentious one.
However, advocates for rescheduling say they expect it to take years or even decades to resolve. Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), described the process as designed to be drawn out, citing historical precedent and the existence of mechanisms within the administrative process that allow parties to prolong it indefinitely.
The move has been met with skepticism from former allies of Trump, including his former Attorney General Bill Barr, who is now part of the legal team for an anti-cannabis group. Congressional Republicans are also pushing to keep cannabis on Schedule I, and Attorney General Pam Bondi has expressed her opposition to rescheduling.
Despite the president's directive, the reality on the ground remains that cannabis-related arrests still account for a significant portion of drug-related arrests nationwide. In many states with legalized adult-use cannabis, cannabis arrests continue to be a major issue, particularly in Illinois.
Critics argue that rescheduling is not enough and that descheduling – or removing cannabis from Schedule I altogether – would provide a more effective solution. Corey Coleman, co-founder of Sky High Brands and founder of the Iowa Hemp Coalition, highlighted the arbitrary nature of cannabis and hemp regulation, citing the need for a more streamlined approach to address the issue.
As the process moves forward, it remains unclear whether Trump's order will have any meaningful impact on the rescheduling of cannabis. For now, it appears that the fight over this issue is likely to be a long and contentious one.
. On one hand, you've got President Trump ordering a review of the scheduling process, which could potentially lead to some progress. But on the other hand, there are so many people pushing back against it, from within the administration to conservative groups and even former allies. It's like they're using smoke and mirrors 
to make it seem like something is happening when really nothing is.
. Until then, we're just stuck in this limbo, where people are still getting arrested left and right for cannabis-related offenses.
. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but one thing's for sure – it's gonna be a long and contentious fight 
. We need some real momentum on this issue, not just a bunch of back-and-forth between different factions. Fingers crossed! 
. It just feels like another example of smoke and mirrors. I mean, Trump's trying to make some noise about rescheduling cannabis, but at the end of the day, it's all just a bunch of politics. The fact that his former allies are already speaking out against it suggests that there's more to this story than meets the eye 
. And let's be real, descheduling is still not on the table - it's like they're just trying to keep us in limbo 
. Otherwise, we'll just end up back where we started - with cannabis still being treated like a "Schedule I" crime 
.
. It's just another case of politicians making promises they can't keep, and then expecting everyone to be happy with the slow pace of progress 
. I mean, come on, it's been years since most states have legalized adult-use cannabis, and we're still dealing with outdated scheduling systems? It's time for some real change, not just smoke and mirrors 
.
. I've seen too many instances where politicians make a promise, only to abandon ship when it gets tough 
. We need more than just empty promises from Washington – we need actual action and reform.
. It's time for us to rethink our outdated laws and regulations, not just tweak them with half-measures 
.
, the fact that bill barr, an old buddy of trumps, is now opposing him on this is just comedy gold 
, but seriously, it's all just smoke and mirrors. advocates are saying years or decades to resolve? please, like that's not a cop-out 
.
. Does anyone really think descheduling – just removing cannabis from Schedule I altogether – would be a better solution? 
. Trump's "rescheduling" order sounds like a load of hot air, if you ask me. Like, who actually thinks it'll take years or decades for this to get sorted out? I mean, come on, guys, get with the times! Cannabis is already being sold and used everywhere except the US (don't even get me started on that