A Republican senator is publicly breaking ranks with the White House over marijuana policy, saying President Donald Trump was “poorly advised” on the push to reschedule cannabis under federal law.
The comments came after the senator said he raised his concerns directly with the president, signaling growing friction within the GOP over how the administration is handling cannabis reform.
Earlier this year, Trump directed the Justice Department to move forward with shifting marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III. Such a change would not legalize cannabis federally, but it would formally recognize medical use and reduce certain regulatory and tax burdens that have long complicated the industry.
Supporters of the move argue that rescheduling would ease research restrictions, expand medical access and provide financial relief to state-legal cannabis businesses. But critics within the president’s own party question whether the benefits are being overstated.
The GOP senator suggested that the administration’s justification—particularly around expanding scientific research—may be based on incomplete information. Researchers, he noted, are already able to study Schedule I substances under existing federal frameworks, raising doubts about how transformative the change would actually be.
At the same time, other Republican lawmakers have expressed uncertainty about whether rescheduling is truly a top priority for the Department of Justice, even as cannabis advocates await concrete action.
The debate highlights a broader divide within the party. While public support for reform continues to grow nationwide, Republican leaders remain split on how far federal policy should go—and how quickly.
For now, marijuana rescheduling remains in a holding pattern. Whether the administration moves decisively or recalibrates its approach may depend on how internal disagreements within the GOP ultimately play out.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
