Overview

• At a $1 million-a-plate Bedminster fundraiser, Trump privately signaled interest in reclassifying marijuana as less dangerous, telling donors “we need to look at that.”
• White House staff have gathered interagency analyses from the DOJ, HHS and the DEA to assess legal requirements and implications before a formal decision.
• Top political advisers view rescheduling as a way to attract younger, libertarian and minority voters ahead of the 2026 midterms, while policy advisers warn of moral and enforcement risks.
• Cannabis industry groups have donated millions to Trump-aligned super PACs and intensified direct lobbying after stalled progress under the Biden administration’s review.
• Rescheduling to Schedule III would ease research restrictions and allow standard business tax deductions without legalizing recreational use or overriding state laws.