With a new administration in D.C. and the rescheduling process delayed, many wonder what’s next for federal weed legalization. On the campaign trail, President Trump suggested he supports reclassifying marijuana and backed an adult-use campaign in his home state of Florida.
But Trump’s cabinet and newly appointed Congressional leaders have some pro-pot advocates unsure if change will indeed come soon. As many know, politics is heavily dependent on donor activity—and some recent actions by the cannabis elite could move the needle.
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As first reported by Marijuana Moment, massive multi-state operator Curaleaf donated $250,000 to Donald Trump’s inauguration committee after his win in November. The funds were filtered through the U.S. Cannabis Council (USCC), an influential industry lobbying group. The donation was likely meant as a gesture of goodwill and to earn favor with the incoming administration.
“President Trump has embraced federal cannabis reform and voiced support for the right of states to set their own cannabis laws,” David Culver, senior vice president of public affairs at USCC, said in an interview with the outlet. “We look forward to working with him and his administration to meaningfully move cannabis policy forward.”
Culver told Marijuana Moment he attended the inauguration along with other unnamed cannabis professionals. Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers posted on her social media that she also attended at least two inaugural events—both of which had ticket costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Trump reportedly met with Rivers and other cannabis exes ahead of the November election. Trulieve was the main backer of Florida’s failed adult-use cannabis ballot measure, sinking over $100 million into the campaign.
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The actions of deep-pocketed cannabis companies may persuade the Trump administration to move in their favor. However, this could be problematic for craft and legacy cannabis operators who are not in the same position—and may not have a seat at the table as regulations are discussed.
In Washington, money talks—and ultimately influences policy. The donations coming from the USCC (and potentially others) could see Trump positively swayed to act in the cannabis industry’s favor. The president has been tight-lipped on pot since taking office, but if the past weeks of executive orders are any indication, there’s no telling what’s coming next.
