Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has publicly criticised President Donald Trump over reports that the administration is considering reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, took to X to voice his concerns, stating, 'I hope this doesn’t happen. We need to protect public spaces for kids. Everything already smells like weed, which is ridiculous.'
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is considering moving marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. Currently, Schedule I includes heroin, ecstasy, and LSD, defined by the Drug Enforcement Administration as drugs with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. A reclassification would not legalise marijuana but would ease restrictions, allow tax breaks for some companies, and enable further medical research.
The push for reclassification dates back to the Biden administration. At a recent $1 million-a-plate fundraiser at Trump's New Jersey golf course, attendees including Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers reportedly encouraged Trump to pursue the change and expand medical marijuana research.
In response to Kirk's tweet, social media users unearthed a 2018 post from Kirk stating, 'People should not go to prison for using, producing, or selling marijuana.' The inconsistency has drawn attention as the debate over marijuana policy continues ahead of the 2024 election.
