Politics
Trump’s Drug Czar Pick Says Marijuana Is A ‘Bipartisan Issue,’ But Admin Still Exploring ‘All Options’ On Scheduling
President Donald Trump’s nominee for White House drug czar told senators on Wednesday that the administration is keeping “all options” on the table as it continues to consider a pending marijuana rescheduling proposal, while describing cannabis reform as a “bipartisan issue.”
During a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sara Carter (who also uses the name Sara Bailey) was pressed on cannabis rescheduling by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), who asked how she would advise the president as he considers moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Booker noted that Carter discussed her support for medical marijuana access in 2023, adding that Congress has had “bipartisan hearings here with military personnel talking about the transformative impact it’s had” in treating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
While the senator supports ending federal cannabis prohibition altogether, he said the rescheduling proposal that was initiated under former President Joe Biden and which Trump said last month he’d be making a final decision on imminently would be a “step in the right direction.”
“That would finally at least recognize that [cannabis has] medical benefits, but it would allow scientists to study the short- and long-term health impacts,” he said. “It would open up the door to more scientific study, and so I’m wondering if you were confirmed, how would you advise the American president about the ongoing rescheduling process?”
Carter, who was nominated by Trump to serve as director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), said she shares Booker’s passion for the issue, which she characterized as “bipartisan.”
“If confirmed as director, I will comply with all federal laws and fulfill all statutory responsibilities of the ONDCP,” she said. “However, we will continue to work extensively with research and data. We will continue to do that and explore all options.”
Cartr also noted that she’s already met with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins, and the administration is aligned on the need for “continued research and data that we will be delivering, and based on that research and data we can continue to assess. I think that is vitally important.”
Booker brought up the fact that federal law currently prevents ONDCP from promoting the legalization of Schedule I drugs like cannabis, which he said makes researching the substance “really difficult.”
“So I’m hoping, as we work together across the aisle on legislation that would simply allow the ONDCP to study the impacts, that this might be something that you would support,” he said.
“Absolutely I can,” Carter said. “We will continue to study the impacts of that.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen.
