Trump Says He Reserves Right To Ignore Medical Marijuana Protection Provision In Spending Bill

donald-trump-and-marijuana-politicsTrump Says He Reserves Right To Ignore Medical Marijuana Protection Provision In Spending Bill

Friday May 5th, President Trump signed a $1trillion bill into law in order to keep the government working. A provision of this bill made sure that the Justice Department could not use any funding from the bill to impede the states that have legal growing and selling of marijuana laws.

Though he signed the bill, there were many provisions of the bill that he did not agree with. He said this about the bill, “I will treat this provision consistently with my constitutional responsibility to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” (Source: www.thecannabist.com) While this is President Trump that I’m talking about, I think that he was not talking about this particular provision on marijuana. He could be talking about recreational use of marijuana.

He did say in his campaign that he would leave the medicinal use for states to decide. He said this, when talking about marijuana, in a radio interview on WWJ Newsradio 950 on March 8, 2016, “I have not smoked it…it’s got to be a state decision…I do like it, you know, from a medical standpoint…” California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom sent President Trump a letter, reminding him of his campaign promise. Lt. Gov. Newsom also told him that it would be easier to control if the federal government would not intervene, pointing to the ways the federal government has failed in the past, in combating illegal marijuana distribution. “But through our draconian and prohibitionist policies, we have outsourced much of this industry to an illicit market of criminals…,” wrote Lt. Gov. Newsome. (Source: www.politifact.com)

I believe President Trump has the same stance as Lt. Gov. Newsome, but for some reason wants the federal government to be a part of the regulation process. Medical dispensaries, like Harborside or Blṻm, those dispensaries will be fine. I think illegal sellers and non-medical dispensaries may have some bigger hurdles that they will need to get over in the coming years.

BY: Britt K. McCormick

Britt K. McCormick is a nineteen year old marijuana advocate. He’s been using marijuana products for a little less than a year to treat cerebral palsy and hasn’t looked back.



Leave a Reply