Donald Trump and the future of legal cannabis

The arrival of Donald Trump in the White House makes the outcome of federal cannabis legalization uncertain. However, there are signs of progress, especially in view of the billionaire president's pro-business stance.

The end of American cannabis prohibition draws near

Four new states legalize recreational cannabis, This brings to 8 the number of states where cannabis can be freely purchased in the USA, i.e. 1 in 5 Americans. Add to this the now 29 states that allow medical cannabis. With over half the states having legalized medical use, American constitutional law suggests that it could be imposed nationwide.

Newsweed had already relayed the words of Barack Obama who declared that prohibition would no longer be tenable if the 5 States switched to a legal flag. This will be 4/5 , But the Californian ogre is now set to explode the cannabic profits meter.

A worrying change of administration

The Obama administration has clearly avoided interfering in the affairs of the pioneering states in the sector. And that's what's worrying about the new administration. If Donald Trump's governance team chooses a more interventionist model, it could put the brakes on legalization movements within the states.

In the «90s, Trump was a libertarian, proposing the legalization of all drugs. Now that the election has come and gone, he has measured his words, proposing the continuity of the current movement in his campaign, i.e. letting each state legislate independently of federal policy. On the other hand, he is »100 %" in favor of medical use.

The problem doesn't necessarily lie with Trump, but with his governing team. Two names are currently circulating: former New York mayor Rudy Galiani and his vice-president Mike Pence. The former is credited with the policy of cleaning up New York's streets by multiplying police controls in the 1990s. The latter implemented drastic laws concerning cannabis possession in Indiana. Possession of a joint was punishable by up to a year in prison.

What's more, during his campaign, the now President became a specialist in reversals. He did, however, support the removal of cannabis from Schedule 1, the list of the most dangerous products with no medical virtue, in which cannabis is placed alongside heroin.

It remains to be seen whether the new president will live up to his commitments. He could revive the prohibitionist machine by regaining control over dissident states. But his knowledge of business and his desire to revive the American economy could encourage him to normalize and legalize the tobacco market. cannabis across the United States. Each state could then decide whether or not to follow federal legalization.

Why is federal legalization important?

Federal prohibition of cannabis in the USA severely limits any scientific and medical study of cannabis. Cannabis companies are also barred from banking services, as banks don't want to risk taking money from a federally prohibited substance. Federal legalization would break down certain barriers and facilitate the industry's work, while leaving each state to control and regulate its own cannabis production and distribution channels.

Théo Caillart