On January the 20th, 2017, the eyes of the world will be on America, yet again, as former real estate tycoon Donald John Trump takes office as the 45th President of the United States of America. In an unprecedented victory, following one of the most controversial, swashbuckling campaign battles in the history of the country, the United States top job was awarded to the former beauty pageant presenter.
In a victory that incited protests and riots nationwide, all the hullabaloo surrounding the appointment of the 45th President Elect reflects one thing clearly: people care about the impact this political selection is going to have on their lives. The concern is well warranted too, whether you’re Mexican, Muslim or any other minority, the promises of change made to potential supporters on his crusade for the presidency of our country have been widely observed as combatively contentious and potentially disastrous for a range of demographics. The virgin politician is a powerful character, with powerful assets, in arguably the most powerful seat of influence in the world… we should care about the policies to be administered come inauguration day.
Immigration laws, foreign relations and climate change management aside though, how will this varyingly received change in leadership affect the cannabis community of the nation? Will the new leader of America implement statutes that will hurt or help the advancement of marijuana as a legitimate healer and authorized recreational agent? Trump has made several statements in reference to his views on the vilified herb and remaining true to Trump form, his statements have often been wild and contradictory.
So what has the President-to-be said, and how will his views and that of his office affect the current forward motion of the American reefer referendums?
While the president elect has made statements in favour of marijuana, telling a Nevada rally of devotees that “In terms of marijuana and legalization, I think that it should be a state issue, state-by-state,” he can also be seen on C-SPAN telling viewers, “I’d say, (regulating marijuana), it’s bad. Medical marijuana is another thing, but I think it’s bad and I feel strongly about that.”
With the added napalm of viral click-bait articles sporting titles like, “Trump to legalize marijuana in all 50 states,” being shared across social media platforms at legendary levels, there’s justifiable apprehension abound due to the speculation on the new leader’s true views on marijuana legalization, however, the best way in trying to determine the exact potential for danger brewing in the Oval Office over the next four years isn’t trying to determine the truth from a handful of inconsistent declarations from a people pleasing politician, but looking at who the 45th president has in his cabinet.
For example, Sen. Jeff Sessions is Americas new Attorney General. The freshman Chief Adjudicator can be quoted as making a number of statements that clearly reflect his stance and the course of action he’d be most likey to pursue with his new position of power.
At a Senate drug hearing in April the former Alabama representative had this to say regarding marijuana law reform, “we need grown-ups in charge in Washington to say marijuana is not the kind of thing that ought to be legalized, it ought not to be minimized, that it’s in fact a very real danger.” He furthered on to critique his boss’s predecessor by saying, “I think one of Obama's great failures, it's obvious to me, is his lax treatment in comments on marijuana, it reverses 20 years almost of hostility to drugs that began really when Nancy Reagan started ‘Just Say No.’ ” He rounded out with clarity on his stance by urging fellow seat holders to foster the “knowledge that this drug is dangerous, you cannot play with it, it is not funny, it’s not something to laugh about . . . and to send that message with clarity that good people don’t smoke marijuana.”
It seems the cannabis community should be worried. The certainty of America’s future and the certainty of the direction that the marijuana movement will be seen heading in are all as questionable as Donald Trump’s hair. The frightening fact for all cannabis consuming Americans is that under federal law using marijuana in any fashion is still 100% illegal and a man described as “by far the single most outspoken opponent of marijuana legalization in the U.S. Senate,” has been given power to a seat granting him the power to bring the federal law down like an anvil on all the progress we’ve seen.
Another thought to consider is that while Jeff Sessions boss, the virgin politician and president-to-be has committed all of his business matters to a blind trust so as not to create a conflict of interest while he holds office, the business savvy A-1 is no dummy either. Blind trust or not the man with over a 4 billion dollar net worth is not easily going to forget that he holds a vested interest in big pharma giants Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Celegne, holding a number of shares in all of them.
Some might say this information has no bearing on the President Elect’s course over his term, but would the potential to lose or gain millions based on the lawful status of a plant affect the way you implemented it’s regulation, if you had the power to do so?
While many a POTUS hopeful have made many an illusory statement in a show of public flattery as a vote winning tactic, an important observation to note in adherance to concerned parental wisdom, is that you can tell the nature of a man by the company he keeps. Birds of a feather and all that jazz, right?
While only time will tell if this flock will be flying high or nosediving into the general population and shitting all over everything, one thing is for certain: the burden of proof goes to the corner of the new Oval Office Overseer. There is a lot of concern, a lot of question and an expectant America is waiting on a response.
Trump that, Mr. President.
See you next time!
James
(Through the Eyes Of Stoner, a series on Cannabis.net)
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