Weldon Angelos, a former federal inmate pardoned by Trump for a nonviolent marijuana offense, and Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve Cannabis Corp., shared their insights with industry stakeholders gathered at the high-profile event. Both figures have direct access to Trump’s circle and say the former president is more open to cannabis reform than many assume.
“We’re hearing positive things behind the scenes,” Angelos said. “Change is coming. It just won’t happen overnight.”
The tone was one of cautious confidence. While past administrations—including the current one—have repeatedly signaled progress, actual movement has often been stalled by political gridlock and bureaucratic delays. Despite Biden’s 2022 announcement that launched the cannabis rescheduling process, delays by the DEA and lack of executive follow-through have frustrated industry insiders.
Trump, by contrast, made headlines last year when he publicly supported both medical marijuana and Florida’s Amendment 3, a ballot initiative for adult-use legalization. That endorsement beat Democratic frontrunner Kamala Harris to the punch and surprised many political observers. Rivers’ company, Trulieve, was the largest financial supporter of the initiative, contributing $150 million to the campaign.
However, some of Trump’s recent moves have raised eyebrows. His nominee to lead the DEA, former agent Terrance Cole, sidestepped marijuana-related questions during confirmation hearings. In April, a senior White House source reportedly told CNN that no rescheduling action was currently planned.
Still, both Angelos and Rivers remain optimistic. They believe Trump’s personal exposure to medical marijuana users and his familiarity with the issue could tilt the scales in favor of reform.
“That kind of real-world connection changes things,” Rivers said. “And it’s already happening within his inner circle.”
The message to the cannabis industry was clear: Stay patient, stay strategic, and don’t rule out an unlikely political ally.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
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