Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Dulcinea

(9,676 posts)
Tue Jan 6, 2026, 07:17 AM Tuesday

Trump's embrace of pot has Republicans in Congress fuming

(Politico) President Donald Trump has a GOP revolt on his hands. It’s about weed.

In announcing last month that he wants to reduce government regulations on marijuana that have kept taxes high for cannabis companies and made it difficult for researchers to study the drug’s health effects, the president got on the wrong side of the Republican House speaker and four of the party’s top leaders in the Senate.

Trump’s move came a month after Republicans in Congress pushed through their own law, as part of a funding bill to end the government shutdown, restricting products made with a cannabis-derived compound.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-embrace-pot-republicans-congress-210000947.html

3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump's embrace of pot has Republicans in Congress fuming (Original Post) Dulcinea Tuesday OP
The Republicans in Congress are at odds with their own voters AZProgressive Tuesday #1
"He's not listening to the vast majority of his advisers." Eugene Tuesday #2
You beat me to it. Paladin Tuesday #3

AZProgressive

(29,852 posts)
1. The Republicans in Congress are at odds with their own voters
Tue Jan 6, 2026, 07:25 AM
Tuesday

This article has some of the more recent polling on the issue.

Why Do GOP Lawmakers Still Oppose Legalizing Weed?

(snip)

This widespread support is rapidly changing the landscape of marijuana prohibition, too. Just 10 years ago, the use and distribution of cannabis for recreational purposes was illegal across the entire country. But since 2012, 18 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, and a handful more are expected to follow soon. This month, meanwhile, the U.S. House passed legislation that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.

Not everyone is on board with those policy changes, though. Over 200 House Republicans voted against the legislation, while only three voted for it. (By comparison, over 200 House Democrats voted for the legislation, while only two voted against it.) That partisan opposition means the bill will almost certainly die in the U.S. Senate. After all, Democrats need at least 10 GOP senators to join them in breaking a filibuster. Moreover, even less-controversial marijuana legislation — such as allowing cannabis-related businesses access to the banking system — has repeatedly failed among Republicans in the Senate. With several GOP senators already expressing their disapproval of the bill, this legislation is likely destined to suffer the same fate.

GOP lawmakers’ ongoing opposition to legalization is clearly at odds with the viewpoints of many Americans, as most voters now support legalizing marijuana for recreational use. But congressional Republicans are also increasingly out of step with their own rank-and-file members, as it’s Republicans disproportionately driving the most recent uptick in support for legalizing marijuana, according to polling from Civiqs.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-do-gop-lawmakers-still-oppose-legalizing-weed/

This article is a few years old but I can't imagine much has changed except maybe in less than a handful of deep red states that turned it down at the state level.

Eugene

(66,807 posts)
2. "He's not listening to the vast majority of his advisers."
Tue Jan 6, 2026, 07:27 AM
Tuesday

Dump listened to the lobbyists on this one, and lots of lobbying cash changed hands.

https://hightimes.com/news/how-the-cannabis-lobby-finally-got-trump-to-budge/

Any guesses on how big a piece of the action Dump's family gets?

Paladin

(32,299 posts)
3. You beat me to it.
Tue Jan 6, 2026, 07:41 AM
Tuesday

As usual, the only question to be asked is: How much money will trump and his corrupt, grifting family be making from weed legalization? He's stopped even trying to hide his lust for cash by any means possible---and he just keeps getting away with it.

Latest Discussions»Editorials & Other Articles»Trump's embrace of pot ha...