In a U-turn from Donald Trump’s first term in the White House, the president-elect’s pick for attorney general is a friend of pro-cannabis policies.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., whom Trump nominated on Nov. 13 as the next head of the Department of Justice (DOJ), has a legislative record of supporting federal cannabis legalization, loosening restrictions on cultivating cannabis for research and providing safe banking for the industry.
This support represents a 180-degree political shift compared to Trump’s previous attorneys general: Jeff Sessions and William Barr (more on this below).
“Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice,” Trump said Wednesday on Truth Social. “Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System. Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department.”
As outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration continues its current cannabis rescheduling process—with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) not scheduled to begin testimonies for an administrative law judge hearing until next year—many cannabis industry stakeholders have speculated what a changing of the guards could mean for that process.
Under current Attorney General Merrick Garland, the DOJ issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on May 21 to transfer cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). While the DEA holds the authority to issue a final rule after the administrative law judge hearing, it operates under the DOJ umbrella.
Should the Senate confirm Gaetz as Trump’s pick to be the next attorney general, the Florida congressman would likely use his new position to not only further this incremental reform effort but also to delist cannabis from the CSA altogether if the opportunity presents itself.
“Rep. Matt Gaetz is one of the most pro-cannabis Republicans on Capitol Hill,” David Culver, U.S. Cannabis Council senior vice president for public affairs, said in a press release. “By tapping him to serve as the nation’s top law enforcement officer, President-elect Trump is signaling his commitment to make good on his campaign promises around cannabis reform.”
H/T: www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com
