The election of former president Donald Trump to a second term has led many to wonder what’s ahead for a wide range of policies. When it comes to cannabis, the Republican has suggested he’s in favor of loosening federal restrictions, though it’s unclear precisely what that means. However, a new interview revealed what pot policy may look like under the incoming administration.
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Bryan Lanza, a former Trump advisor, outlined his predictions for the future of federal weed policy on a recent episode of the Inside Cultivation podcast. Lanza is a close ally of the president-elect who worked on his 2024 campaign and was a part of the 2016 transition team.
As first reported by Marijuana Moment, Lanza said on the podcast the cannabis industry has a “good opportunity” to see significant progress under Trump.
“This is the first time that we have a Republican president that has given us a pathway to what he’s comfortable with,” Lanza declared, referring to Trump’s surprising cannabis commentary on the campaign trail.
During the interview, Lanza speculated that the current rescheduling process will likely be completed and approved in early 2025. He reiterated Trump’s previous support of medical cannabis regulation but noted the Republican leader “hates” public consumption of cannabis.
He added that it would be up to Congress to pass banking protections and other regulations around cannabis. He believes the president’s support would lead to a trickle-down effect on policy. However, when it came to full legalization, Lanza remained skeptical.
“Four years is not long enough to accomplish all the goals we need to do in the cannabis space,” he conceded.
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Despite Trump’s apparent support of moderate policy change, roadblocks remain. For example, the new Senate Majority Leader, John Thune, is opposed to rescheduling and has voiced concerns about legalization.
Lanza’s analysis may be taken with a grain of salt as he is currently a lobbyist for the U.S. Cannabis Council. Despite his political ties, Lanza’s predictions do appear to be in line with Trump’s recent comments on pot policy. Only time will tell what, if any, will come to fruition.
