Donald Trump, the President of the United States, is reported to be considering a plan to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug and ease regulations.
The Wall Street Journal reported on the 8th, citing familiar sources, that President Trump indicated his interest in the reclassification of marijuana during a fundraising event held earlier this month at a golf club in New Jersey.
If realized, this measure could make the sale of marijuana easier and enhance the revenue of related businesses. In the U.S., the purchase of medical marijuana or recreational marijuana is legal depending on the region.
The key question is whether to classify marijuana as a 'Schedule 3 drug.' In this case, it would not fully legalize marijuana but would relax related regulations. Tax reductions for some marijuana corporations and additional support for medical research could also become possible.
Among the attendees was Kim Rivers, the CEO of Trulieve, one of the largest marijuana product corporations in the U.S. Rivers reportedly urged President Trump to push for policy changes and expand research on medical marijuana.
President Trump is said to have expressed interest after hearing her remarks and conveyed this to his aides.
The event was attended by the CEO of pharmaceutical company Pfizer, executives from cryptocurrency corporations, and political aides close to President Trump. This event was part of a campaign organized by related corporations to advocate for the reclassification of marijuana.
These corporations donated millions of dollars to political groups supporting President Trump and hired top lobbyists in Washington and close associates of the President. However, when they did not gain traction within other government departments, they approached President Trump directly.
Senior officials in the U.S. government have indicated that relevant discussions are ongoing within the government. However, it is still unclear what final decision President Trump will make.