Politics
Most Marijuana Consumers Oppose Trump’s Cannabis Actions So Far, But Rescheduling Or Legalization Could Bolster Support, Poll Shows
A majority of marijuana consumers disapprove of the Trump administration’s actions on cannabis policy to date, according to the first edition of a new tracking poll from Marijuana Moment and NuggMD. But the survey also shows a significant willingness among users to shift their position if the federal government opts to reschedule or legalize marijuana.
The survey results come at a time when President Donald Trump is facing scrutiny from advocates who had hoped to see him complete the cannabis rescheduling process that was initiated under the Biden administration but has since stalled out. Trump endorsed the proposal, as well as industry banking access and a Florida legalization ballot initiative, on the campaign trail last year—but he’s since been publicly silent on the issue.
As part of his latest budget request, the president also again proposed to remove existing protections for states that have legalized medical marijuana, while maintaining a ban that’s prevented Washington, D.C. from enacting a system of regulated adult-use cannabis sales.
Cannabis consumers are evidently dissatisfied, with 58.4 percent of respondents saying they either “disapprove” or “strongly disapprove” of the administration’s “actions on cannabis.” The bulk of those respondents said they strongly disapprove, at 47.8 percent. Just 26.1 percent said they approve of the administration’s work on the issue, while 15.4 percent said they were neutral.
| “Do you approve or disapprove of the presidential administration’s actions on cannabis?” | ||
| n | % | |
| Strongly approve | 98 | 16.3% |
| Approve | 59 | 9.8% |
| Neutral | 93 | 15.4% |
| Disapprove | 64 | 10.6% |
| Strongly disapprove | 288 | 47.8% |
But as other past surveys have indicated, the president stands to benefit demonstrably if the White House follows through on rescheduling cannabis or goes further by ending federal prohibition altogether.
The poll found that 39.3 percent of marijuana users would support the administration either “a bit more” or “a lot more” if either of those reforms were enacted. Less than one percent said they’d be less supportive if rescheduling or legalization were put in place. That said, the majority (59.6 percent) said their support wouldn’t change either way.
The new survey is the first iteration of what is planned to be an ongoing tracking poll that will query cannabis consumers about their position on the Trump administration’s marijuana actions on a quarterly basis.
“I won’t pretend to know what President Trump will do on cannabis,” Andrew Graham, head of communications at NuggMD, told Marijuana Moment.” What I know is that it’s his call to make, and our polling data shows he has a real political motivation to follow through on his campaign promise to move cannabis to Schedule 3.”
| “If the Trump administration were to reschedule or legalize cannabis, would that change your level of support for it?” | ||
| n | % | |
| I would support it much more | 167 | 27.7% |
| I would support it a bit more | 70 | 11.6% |
| No change | 359 | 59.6% |
| I would support it a bit less | 1 | 0.2% |
| I would support it much less | 5 | 0.8% |
The new survey involved interviews with 602 frequent cannabis consumers who live in states with legal markets, from May 19 to June 3, and has a +/-4 percentage point margin of error.
Meanwhile last month, a Senate committee advanced the confirmation of Terrance Cole to become the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) amid the ongoing review of a marijuana rescheduling proposal that he’s refused to commit to enacting.
Cole—who has previously voiced concerns about the dangers of marijuana and linked its use to higher suicide risk among youth—said he would “give the matter careful consideration after consulting with appropriate personnel within the Drug Enforcement Administration, familiarizing myself with the current status of the regulatory process, and reviewing all relevant information.”
However, during an in-person hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in April, he said examining the rescheduling proposal will be “one of my first priorities” if he was confirmed for the role, saying it’s “time to move forward” on the stalled process—but again without clarifying what end result he would like to see.
Separately in April, an activist who received a pardon for a marijuana-related conviction during Trump’s first term paid a visit to the White House, discussing future clemency options with the recently appointed “pardon czar.”
A marijuana industry-backed political action committee (PAC) has also released a series of ads over recent months that have attacked Biden’s cannabis policy record as well as the nation of Canada, promoting sometimes misleading claims about the last administration while making the case that Trump can deliver on reform.
Its latest ad accused former President Joe Biden and his DEA of waging a “deep state war” against medical cannabis patients—but without mentioning that the former president himself initiated the rescheduling process that marijuana companies want to see completed under Trump.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.
