Politics
Former NFL Star Talks Marijuana Rescheduling With Top Trump Administration Officials At White House Meeting
A retired professional football player who’s since become an advocate for marijuana policy reform met with top Trump administration officials at the White House to discuss the ongoing federal cannabis rescheduling process.
On Friday, former NFL player-turned-advocate Ricky Williams discussed the reform with high-level staffers across multiple agencies at the White House as part of a broader meeting that touched on cannabis.
Officials with the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Energy and White House Counsels Office were involved in the conversations, Marijuana Moment has learned.
Williams, co-founder of Project Champion, told Marijuana Moment after the meeting that he’s “seen firsthand how cannabis can change lives—not just for wellness, but for opportunity.”
“When I left the NFL, people questioned my choices. But for me, cannabis was part of my journey to healing—physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” he said. “I’m not alone in that experience. Veterans, cancer patients, and everyday Americans are all looking for safer, plant-based alternatives—and right now, federal law stands in the way.”
“Rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III isn’t about politics—it’s about freedom. It’s about empowering small businesses, delivering tax relief, and creating jobs that count,” the athlete and influencer said. “It’s about aligning federal law with what’s already happening in 38 states. And most importantly, it’s about giving people safe, legal access to medicine that works.”
“This reform is smart, it’s strategic, and it’s long overdue. Rescheduling helps us build a stronger economy, protect our communities, and ensure this industry benefits all Americans—including communities of color that have historically been left behind. I’m proud to stand here today to say: this is how we put America First.”
Bruce Levell, who is a longtime advisor to Trump and has served as executive director of his National Diversity Coalition, was also at the meeting.
He separately said in a social media post that he was “thrilled to share a highly productive meeting with [White House] senior staff, discussing President Trump’s transformative bill and its profound impact on urban and rural America.”
“The Biden administration fell short on cannabis rescheduling, but we’re eager for our next conversation on moving to Schedule III,” he said, adding that Trump “is poised to deliver where others have not.”
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) again notified an agency judge that the marijuana rescheduling process remains stalled under the Trump administration.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was previously vocal about his support for legalizing cannabis, as well as psychedelics therapy. But during his Senate confirmation process in February, he said that he would defer to DEA on marijuana rescheduling in his new role.
Separately, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was reportedly photographed reviewing a document that appears to be a draft contract to provide services—including “administration-related guidance”—to a firm affiliated with the major marijuana company Trulieve. The visible portion of the document describes a lucrative bonus if a certain “matter resolves,” with an “additional ‘Super Success Fee’” for other “exclusive policy remedies.”
Last month, the former congressman reiterated his own support for rescheduling cannabis—suggesting in an interview with a Florida Republican lawmaker that the GOP could win more of the youth vote by embracing marijuana reform.
Gaetz also said last month that Trump’s endorsement of a Schedule III reclassification was essentially an attempt to shore up support among young voters rather than a sincere reflection of his personal views about cannabis.
A survey conducted by a GOP pollster affiliated with Trump that was released in April found that a majority of Republicans back a variety of cannabis reforms, including rescheduling. And, notably, they’re even more supportive of allowing states to legalize marijuana without federal interference compared to the average voter.
Meanwhile, Trump picked former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) to run DOJ, and the Senate confirmed that choice. During her confirmation hearings, Bondi declined to say how she planned to navigate key marijuana policy issues. And as state attorney general, she opposed efforts to legalize medical cannabis.
Amid the stalled marijuana rescheduling process that’s carried over from the last presidential administration, congressional researchers recently reiterated that lawmakers could enact the reform themselves with “greater speed and flexibility” if they so choose, while potentially avoiding judicial challenges.
Meanwhile, a newly formed coalition of professional athletes and entertainers, led by retired boxer Mike Tyson, sent a letter to Trump on Friday—thanking him for past clemency actions while emphasizing the opportunity he has to best former President Joe Biden by rescheduling marijuana, expanding pardons and freeing up banking services for licensed cannabis businesses.
