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Is Cannabis Rescheduling Really On The Horizon?
Former Rep Matt Gaetz Said “Meaningful” Cannabis Reform Is Coming Soon, But Will Pam Bondi Help?
Earlier this year, Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was President Trump’s first choice for US attorney general before he moved out of the race, wrote an op-ed in the Tampa Bay Times where he expresses his beliefs that cannabis should be moved from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug.
He admits that while doing so “won’t solve every problem overnight, but it is a necessary step in the right direction.” In the article, he also writes about his beliefs that Trump could be significant in ensuring that happens. It had been clear that Gaetz was pro-cannabis, and pro-legalization reform; he even made promises to “go easy” on weed should he be granted the role of Attorney General.
But now that it’s Pam Bondi who serves as the US Attorney General, is she going to help support or hinder rescheduling? Bondi isn’t as friendly to cannabis as Gaetz was; in fact, Bondi was against cannabis legalization efforts in the past.
It’s also rather worrisome that, during the first term of Trump,
A Brief Look Into Pam Bondi’s History
Long before Pamela Bondi was officially inaugurated as the 87th US Attorney General, the idea of her taking that seat sent chills across those in the cannabis industry, consumers, and just about anyone who had high hopes for cannabis rescheduling.
She is well-known for her history of being anti-marijuana, especially when she served as the attorney general for Florida. Back in 2018, she worked on preventing access to smokable marijuana in Florida. She’s also notorious for her tough approach on criminal justice reforms when she served as Florida’s Attorney General, not to mention her overall opposition against recreational legalization.
But with her current role as Attorney General, Bondi will be overseeing the agencies that play the most critical role when it comes to rescheduling marijuana: the DOJ and the DEA. Because of this, one can say that she’ll be inheriting the entire process involving rescheduling, as well as any contentions that come with it,
Where Does Pam Bondi Stand When It Comes To Rescheduling Marijuana?
The current administration can make or break the way for cannabis rescheduling. When Biden’s administration proposed making cannabis a Schedule III drug, it was a pivotal yet incomplete move – more needed to be done in order to legalize cannabis in the eyes of the federal law and get it on the same page as state-level legalization.
That said, Bondi is treading carefully; since her nomination, she hasn’t been discussing her approach to cannabis policy just yet in public. She’s only said, in a January 2025 hearing, when asked about policy: “If confirmed, I will give the matter careful consideration after consulting with appropriate Department officials.”
What Are The Chances Of Cannabis Rescheduling With The Current AG?
It must also be said that we are still in an age of uncertainty as we usher in the new administration; any efforts to reschedule have taken a back seat. Unfortunately, we don’t know how long we’re going to wait until rescheduling is back on the agenda, though it will be soon enough. After all, most Americans now support cannabis legalization in one form or another, since almost all states have already legalized weed either for medical or recreational use. One of the biggest challenges that Bondi faces though, is the fact that there is still a conflict between the state law and federal law in cannabis policy.
However, President Trump has been vocal about his support towards rescheduling marijuana, and that support extends to certain cannabis reforms too. We never know if the current administration will suddenly decide to prioritize these reforms, but if that day comes, she might have no choice but to be aligned with Trump’s stance towards marijuana. This is especially true if other key agencies and officials are also supportive of marijuana reforms.
As of now, Trump has also been rather quiet, even though he did make a vow to decriminalize cannabis while removing obstacles for cannabis businesses to enjoy banking benefits and for universities to study it. And, CNN reports, that there will soon be commercials airing reminders of Trump’s promises to the cannabis industry, in locations where he spends a majority of his time. This includes the White House and Mar-A-Lago. American Rights, together with Reform PAC, which is supported by the weed industry, is already working on a massive ad campaign that criticizes Canada and President Joe Biden, while praising Trump for improving patient access to experimental medications in the first term.
So, let’s see how long they’d be able to stay quiet once those ads air.
Conclusion
For those in the cannabis industry, we’re approaching this time with a great deal of caution. Pamela Bondi may be conservative on record though there is a chance that she may convert her stance into one that’s reform-focused with a federal government agenda in mind. Bondi may not have been pro-cannabis in the past though we can give her a chance to shift her approach and her overall perceptions towards cannabis, together with shifting federal marijuana policies.
Bondi’s role as a leader will ultimately tell the rest of the country whether we can look a future in the cannabis industry that is fair, just, and fair. She plays a pivotal role in ensuring that cannabis reform gets center stage during hearings, and we can only hope that she fulfills her role working on behalf of the country – people who clearly support cannabis legalization.
WHO IS PAM BONDI AND IS SHE GOOD FOR WEED?
PAM BONDI IS THE NEW US ATTORNEY GENERAL, NOW WHAT FOR WEED?