{"id":82500,"date":"2025-07-30T03:20:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T11:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2025\/07\/30\/anti-marijuana-group-rolls-out-tv-ad-campaign-urging-trump-not-to-reschedule-cannabis\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T19:49:50","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T03:49:50","slug":"anti-marijuana-group-rolls-out-tv-ad-campaign-urging-trump-not-to-reschedule-cannabis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2025\/07\/30\/anti-marijuana-group-rolls-out-tv-ad-campaign-urging-trump-not-to-reschedule-cannabis\/","title":{"rendered":"Anti-Marijuana Group Rolls Out TV Ad Campaign Urging Trump Not To Reschedule Cannabis"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

A prominent marijuana prohibitionist group is rolling out a six-figure ad campaign directed at President Donald Trump, urging him not to move forward with cannabis rescheduling.<\/p>\n

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) Action is behind three 30-second TV ads that claim rescheduling would empower Chinese cartels, normalize marijuana use and undermine the administration\u2019s \u201cMake America Healthy\u201d agenda.<\/p>\n

The ads will air on Fox News and Fox Business Network\u2014increasing the likelihood that they could catch Trump\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cRescheduling is a cartel tax cut,\u201d Kevin Sabet, president of SAM, said in a press release. \u201cBy removing marijuana from the reach of Section 280E, Washington would hand [Chinese Community Party]-backed cartels and Big Marijuana a taxpayer-subsidized path to dominate the market and target our kids, while giving Big Marijuana major tax breaks, further fueling an addiction-for-profit industry that targets our children and undermines federal law.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reference to Section 280E is about an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code that has long precluded state-licensed cannabis businesses from taking federal tax deductions while marijuana remains a Schedule I drug. If the Biden administration-initiated process to moving cannabis to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is completed, those businesses would be free to take those deductions.<\/p>\n

\n
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Tell @POTUS<\/a>, don\u2019t hand a win to Mexican cartels and the Chinese Communist Party.<\/p>\n

Illegal marijuana grows run by cartels, backed by CCP-linked actors, are flooding our communities.<\/p>\n

Rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III rewards them with tax breaks.<\/p>\n

Tell Trump\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/IA3hLoJQXC<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SAM (@learnaboutsam) July 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

Here\u2019s a transcript of the three anti-rescheduling ads<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

China<\/h3>\n

\u201cAmerica faces a choice, and China is watching. Chinese drug cartels are already embedded in America\u2019s marijuana trade, profiting while our biggest adversary destabilizes our communities. If activists get their way and reschedule marijuana, it hands China an advantage and harms American public health. Rescheduling marijuana would actually give cartels a tax break. President Trump, don\u2019t reschedule marijuana. It\u2019s not just domestic policy, it\u2019s national security.\u201d<\/p>\n

Golden Age<\/h3>\n

\u201cPresident Trump promised a new golden age for America, but rescheduling marijuana would threaten that promise by normalizing a drug that clouds minds and weakens communities. With its toxic impacts felt across our country\u2014causing IQ loss, laziness, psychosis, even suicide\u2014high potency weed damages hearts, minds and futures, especially for the young. President Trump, America needs a new golden age. Don\u2019t let marijuana rescheduling tarnish it.\u201d<\/p>\n

MAHA<\/h3>\n

\u201cWashington says it\u2019s working to make America healthy again. But while they debate red dye and food additives, they\u2019re on the verge of normalizing something even worse. High-potency marijuana is triggering addiction, psychosis and impaired driving, especially in young people. Today\u2019s so-called \u2018legal marijuana\u2019 is full of adulterants, pesticides and GMO ingredients. That\u2019s not how we turn around the health epidemic in our country. Make America healthy again by facing the facts on weed. Don\u2019t reschedule marijuana.\u201d<\/p>\n

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President Trump promised a new golden age for America, but rescheduling marijuana would threaten that promise by normalizing a drug that clouds minds and weakens communities, with its toxic impacts felt across our country.<\/p>\n

A golden age means stronger families, not cannabis\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/IdqH07pi2t<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SAM (@learnaboutsam) July 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

Legalization advocates, of course, argue that enacting reform will undermine the illicit market, contrary to the message in the new SAM ads.<\/p>\n

Despite SAM\u2019s efforts to sound the alarm about what it claims are potential consequences of rescheduling, the reform push has been stalled for months. Former President Joe Biden\u2019s U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended the policy change following a scientific review, but Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hearings were suspended amid procedural disagreements between the parties.<\/p>\n

While Terrence Cole\u2014who was recently sworn as the new administrator of DEA\u2014said during a confirmation hearing in April that examining the government\u2019s pending marijuana rescheduling proposal would be \u201cone of my first priorities\u201d after taking office<\/a>, the reform was not included in a list of initial priorities that the agency put out last week<\/a> once he took office.<\/p>\n

Ahead of Cole\u2019s swearing-in last week, the Senate a day earlier gave final approval to the Trump nominee. Almost immediately afterward, a major marijuana industry association renewed the push to make progress on the long-stalled federal cannabis rescheduling process<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014
\nMarijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nLearn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
\n\u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

In May, a Senate committee\u00a0advanced the nomination of Cole to become DEA administrator<\/a>\u00a0amid the ongoing review of the\u00a0marijuana rescheduling proposal that he has so far refused to commit to enacting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cole\u2014who has\u00a0previously voiced concerns about the dangers of marijuana<\/a>\u00a0and linked its use to higher suicide risk among youth\u2014said in response to senators\u2019 written questions at the time that he would \u201cgive the matter careful consideration after consulting with appropriate personnel within the Drug Enforcement Administration, familiarizing myself with the current status of the regulatory process, and reviewing all relevant information.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, meanwhile, DEA again notified an agency judge that the\u00a0marijuana rescheduling process remains stalled under the Trump administration<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been six months since DEA Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) John Mulrooney temporarily paused hearings on a proposal to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) that was initiated under the Biden administration. And in a joint report to the judge submitted on Monday, DEA attorneys and rescheduling proponents said they\u2019re still at an impasse.<\/p>\n

For the time being, any action on the proposed rule to reschedule marijuana is evidently contingent on DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. More likely, according to some, is that it will not move forward until a permanent DEA administration is confirmed.<\/p>\n

Murphy\u2019s appointment as acting administrator wasn\u2019t widely publicized, but he\u2019s replaced Derek Maltz\u2014who subscribes to the \u201cgateway drug\u201d theory for marijuana<\/a>\u2014in the role.<\/p>\n

DEA Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) John Mulrooney\u2014who\u00a0announced his retirement last week<\/a>, leaving the rescheduling process entirely to Cole\u2014initially agreed to delay the proceedings after several pro-reform parties requested a leave to file an interlocutory appeal amid\u00a0allegations that certain DEA officials conspired with anti-rescheduling witnesses<\/a>\u00a0who were selected for the hearing.<\/p>\n

Originally, hearings on the proposed rescheduling rule were set to commence on January 21, but\u00a0those were cancelled when Mulrooney granted the appeal motion<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The appeal came after the judge denied a motion that sought DEA\u2019s removal from the rescheduling proceedings altogether, arguing that it is improperly designated as the chief \u201cproponent\u201d of the proposed rule given the allegations of ex parte communications with anti-rescheduling witnesses that \u201cresulted in an irrevocable taint\u201d to the process.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Justice Department told a federal court in January that it should\u00a0pause a lawsuit challenging DEA\u2019s\u00a0marijuana rescheduling process<\/a>\u00a0after Mulrooney canceled the hearings.<\/p>\n

Also in January, Mulrooney\u00a0condemned DEA over its \u201cunprecedented and astonishing\u201d defiance<\/a>\u00a0of a key directive related to evidence it is seeking to use in the marijuana rescheduling proposal.<\/p>\n

At issue was DEA\u2019s insistence on digitally submitting tens of thousands of public comments it received in response to the proposed rule to move cannabis to Schedule III.<\/p>\n

Mulrooney hasn\u2019t been shy about calling out DEA over various procedural missteps throughout this rescheduling process.<\/p>\n

For example, in December he criticized the agency for making a\u00a0critical \u201cblunder\u201d in its effort to issue subpoenas<\/a>\u00a0to force Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials to testify in hearings\u2014but he allowed the agency to fix the error and ultimately granted the request.<\/p>\n

Relatedly, a federal judge also dismissed a\u00a0lawsuit seeking to compel DEA to turn over its communications<\/a>\u00a0with the anti-cannabis organization.<\/p>\n

Mulrooney\u00a0had separately denied a cannabis research company\u2019s request<\/a>\u00a0to allow it to\u00a0add a young medical marijuana patient and advocate as a witness in the upcoming rescheduling hearing.<\/p>\n

Also, one of the nation\u2019s leading marijuana industry associations asked the judge to clarify whether it will be\u00a0afforded the opportunity to cross-examine DEA during the upcoming hearings<\/a>\u00a0on the cannabis rescheduling proposal.<\/p>\n

Further, a coalition of health professionals that advocates for cannabis reform recently asked that the\u00a0DEA judge halt future marijuana rescheduling hearings<\/a>\u00a0until a federal court is able to address a series of allegations they\u2019re raising about the agency\u2019s witness selection process.<\/p>\n

Separately, the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved a spending bill that contains provisions to\u00a0block the Justice Department from rescheduling marijuana<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The rescheduling proceedings have generated significant public interest. While moving marijuana to Schedule III wouldn\u2019t federally legalize it, the reform would free up licensed cannabis businesses to take federal tax deductions and remove certain research barriers.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, two GOP senators introduced a bill in February that would continue to block marijuana businesses from taking federal tax deductions under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code 280E\u2014even if it\u2019s ultimately rescheduled<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Beyond the hearing delays, another complicating factor is the change in leadership at DEA under the Trump administration.<\/p>\n

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was previously vocal about his support for legalizing cannabis, as well as psychedelics therapy. But during his Senate confirmation process in February, he said that he would\u00a0defer to DEA on marijuana rescheduling<\/a>\u00a0in his new role.<\/p>\n

Separately, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was reportedly photographed reviewing a document that appears to be a draft contract to provide services\u2014including \u201cadministration-related guidance\u201d\u2014to a firm affiliated with the major marijuana company Trulieve<\/a>. The visible portion of the document describes a lucrative bonus if a certain \u201cmatter resolves,\u201d with an \u201cadditional \u2018Super Success Fee\u2019\u201d for other \u201cexclusive policy remedies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last month, the former congressman reiterated his own support for rescheduling cannabis\u2014suggesting in an interview with a Florida Republican lawmaker that\u00a0the GOP could win more of the youth vote by embracing marijuana reform<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gaetz also said in May that Trump\u2019s endorsement of a Schedule III reclassification was\u00a0essentially an attempt to shore up support among young voters<\/a>\u00a0rather than a sincere reflection of his personal views about cannabis.<\/p>\n

A survey conducted by a GOP pollster affiliated with Trump that was released in April found that\u00a0a majority of Republicans back a variety of cannabis reforms<\/a>, including rescheduling. And, notably, they\u2019re even more supportive of allowing states to legalize marijuana without federal interference compared to the average voter.<\/p>\n

Trump picked former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) to run DOJ, and the Senate confirmed that choice. During her confirmation hearings, Bondi\u00a0declined to say how she planned to navigate key marijuana policy issues<\/a>. And as state attorney general, she opposed efforts to legalize medical cannabis.<\/p>\n

Amid the stalled marijuana rescheduling process that\u2019s carried over from the last presidential administration, congressional researchers recently reiterated that\u00a0lawmakers could enact the reform themselves with \u201cgreater speed and flexibility\u201d<\/a>\u00a0if they so choose, while potentially avoiding judicial challenges.<\/p>\n

A newly formed coalition of professional athletes and entertainers, led by retired boxer Mike Tyson, also sent a letter to Trump earlier this month\u2014thanking him for past clemency actions while emphasizing the opportunity he has to best former President Joe Biden by\u00a0rescheduling marijuana, expanding pardons and freeing up banking services<\/a>\u00a0for licensed cannabis businesses.<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis \/\/ Side Pocket Images.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post Anti-Marijuana Group Rolls Out TV Ad Campaign Urging Trump Not To Reschedule Cannabis<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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A prominent marijuana prohibitionist group is rolling out a six-figure ad campaign directed at President Donald Trump, urging him not to move forward with cannabis rescheduling. Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) Action is behind three 30-second TV ads that claim rescheduling would empower Chinese cartels, normalize marijuana use and undermineContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":82501,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81,126],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82500"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82500"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82500\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82502,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82500\/revisions\/82502"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}