Trump supports reclassifying marijuana, voting for legalization in Florida

[KARAH RUCKER]

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS RECENTLY SIGNALED SUPPORT FOR A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN MARIJUANA POLICY –

HIS STANCE – NOW ALIGNING WITH VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS. THIS MARKS THE FIRST TIME BOTH MAJOR-PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES HAVE BACKED BROAD CANNABIS REFORM, REFLECTING A BROADER TREND OF INCREASING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR LEGALIZATION.

IN A TRUTH SOCIAL POST ON SUNDAY, TRUMP EXPRESSED HIS INTENTION TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF FLORIDA’S AMENDMENT 3, WHICH WOULD LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA FOR ADULTS 21 AND OLDER. 

TRUMP SAYS “ITS TIME TO END NEEDLESS ARRESTS AND INCARCERATIONS OF ADULTS FOR SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIUANA FOR PERSONAL USE.”

AND EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR “SMART REGULATIONS” AND ACCESS TO SAFE, TESTED PRODUCTS.

IN ADDITION TO HIS SUPPORT FOR THE FLORIDA MEASURE –

TRUMP ANNOUNCED HIS BACKING FOR A FEDERAL RECLASSIFICATION OF MARIJUANA FROM SCHEDULE I TO SCHEDULE III. 

THIS CHANGE WOULD EASE RESTRICTIONS ON MEDICAL RESEARCH BUT WOULD NOT FULLY LEGALIZE MARIJUANA AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS HAS ALSO SUPPORTED RECLASSIFYING MARIJUANA BUT ADDITIONALLY ADVOCATES FOR ITS COMPLETE LEGALIZATION NATIONWIDE. HARRIS’S CAMPAIGN MANAGER HAS CRITICIZED TRUMP’S STANCE, CALLING IT “BLATANT PANDERING.” 

BUT THE TIMING OF HIS ANNOUNCEMENT COULD PLAY A ROLE IN TUESDAY’S DEBATE –

IF THE FORMER PRESIDENT DECIDES TO CHALLENGE HARRIS ON HER PAST CANNABIS-RELATED PROSECUTIONS AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF SAN FRANCISCO.

TRUMP’S POSITION MARKS A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT FROM THE TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE VIEW ON MARIJUANA. HE STANDS IN CONTRAST TO OTHER PROMINENT REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS, WHO OPPOSES THE STATE’S MARIJUANA BALLOT MEASURE. TRUMP’S ENDORSEMENT COULD HELP BOOST THE CHANCES OF AMENDMENT 3 PASSING, BUT IT NEEDS 60 PERCENT OF VOTER APPROVAL TO SUCCEED. IF IT DOES PASS, FLORIDA WOULD BECOME THE 25TH STATE TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL POT.

THIS SHIFT IN TRUMP’S STANCE MIRRORS A BROADER CHANGE IN AMERICAN ATTITUDES TOWARD MARIJUANA. A GALLUP POLL FROM LAST YEAR FOUND THAT 70 PERCENT OF AMERICAN ADULTS SUPPORT LEGALIZATION, REFLECTING THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF CANNABIS POLICY IN THE U.S.

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