As Donald Trump prepares to take office in January 2025, his administration is already signaling a policy agenda closely aligned with the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a comprehensive blueprint for advancing conservative policies in a future Republican presidency. Among its many recommendations, Project 2025 calls for a rollback of marijuana legalization efforts, framing its use as a public health and societal threat.
The Heritage Foundation’s Game Plan
Project 2025 emphasizes strict enforcement of federal drug laws, including those targeting marijuana, which remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Key elements of the plan include:
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- Strengthening federal law enforcement to target states where marijuana is legal under state laws.
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- Increasing funding for drug prevention campaigns that characterize marijuana use as dangerous.
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- Halting efforts to reschedule marijuana, currently underway with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s consideration of moving cannabis to Schedule III.
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- Rescinding Obama-era guidance (such as the Cole Memo) that deprioritized federal prosecution in states with legal marijuana.
The DEA is full of Trump era appointments, from his previous administration and we’ve been given a preview of what’s to come with the DEA taking the following un-American actions:
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- The DEA denied an agency-registered drug company’s request to join the rescheduling hearing.
- The DEA illegally conspired with prohibitionist
- The DEA rejected a veterans group petition to participate in the hearing to reschedule marijuana.
- Researches allege the DEA is biased towards prohibitionist groups conducted illegal proceedings to ensure prohibition against marijuana stand.
Trump’s selection of administration officials tied to Project 2025, including Russell Vought, Stephen Miller, and Tom Homan, signals the potential implementation of these policies. If enacted, this agenda could fundamentally alter the trajectory of marijuana legalization in the United States.
The Impact on Marijuana Legalization
Under the Trump administration’s alignment with Project 2025:
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- Recriminalization in Legal States: Federal enforcement could undermine state autonomy, leading to raids on dispensaries, seizure of assets, and arrests in states where marijuana is legal for medicinal or recreational use.
- Curtailing Rescheduling Efforts: The DEA’s pending decision to reschedule marijuana could be abandoned or reversed, keeping cannabis classified as a drug with no accepted medical use.
- Industry Devastation: A hostile federal stance could cripple the burgeoning cannabis industry, discouraging investment and shutting down businesses.
- Chilling Effect on State Policies: States considering legalization or decriminalization may hesitate, fearing federal repercussions.
Such policies could reignite the war on drugs, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities that have historically borne the brunt of punitive drug enforcement.
A Step Toward Authoritarianism: Parallels in Policy
The erosion of women’s rights offers a stark preview of what could be in store for marijuana legalization under Project 2025. The aftermath of the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, has already led to a sharp increase in mortality rates—not just among women (minorities especially), but also in infant mortality. This serves as a grim example of how regressive policies can have devastating, far-reaching consequences when public health and individual freedoms are subordinated to ideological agendas.
Project 2025’s broader framework, including its stance on marijuana, reflects the authoritarian approach to governance as abortion. By prioritizing federal control over state rights, suppressing personal freedoms, and using law enforcement as a tool to enforce morality-based policy, the plan edges toward fascistic governance. Key indicators include:
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- Centralized Power: Undermining states’ rights to self-determine cannabis policies sets a precedent for overriding other state-level decisions.
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- Erosion of Civil Liberties: Criminalizing marijuana use at a national scale disregards public opinion, which increasingly supports legalization.
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- Weaponizing Law Enforcement: A heavy-handed approach to drug policy echoes the punitive measures seen in authoritarian regimes.
The Fight Against Marijuana Prohibition
Ending marijuana prohibition has long been seen as a step toward criminal justice reform, public health advocacy, and economic growth. Yet Project 2025’s implementation under the Trump administration could reverse decades of progress. Advocates for legalization must prepare for renewed federal opposition and shift their strategies to focus on public advocacy, litigation, and state-level resilience.
As Project 2025 gains influence in Trump’s administration, the future of American marijuana policy hangs in the balance. What was once a bipartisan movement toward legalization may face a significant backlash, illustrating the broader risks of allowing ideology to dictate governance. For many, this moment marks not just a crossroads for drug policy but a test of America’s commitment to democracy and individual freedoms.
To fight against the authoritarian policies outlined in Project 2025 and protect individual freedoms, we the people must take immediate, unified action. Organize and join grassroots movements advocating for marijuana legalization and criminal justice reform; contact your state and federal representatives to demand they oppose federal overreach and support states’ rights. Amplify your voice by sharing factual, impactful stories about the benefits of cannabis legalization, from medical breakthroughs to economic growth, and highlight the dangers of returning to a punitive war on drugs. Support organizations working to challenge regressive policies in court and engage in local and national elections to ensure that leaders committed to freedom and progress are in power. Democracy thrives when we actively defend it—your voice and actions matter now more than ever.