A prominent anti-marijuana organization has launched a six-figure ad campaign urging former President Donald Trump to oppose the federal rescheduling of cannabis—a reform that remains in limbo under the current administration.
Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) Action unveiled three 30-second television ads on Thursday, warning that moving marijuana to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act would empower foreign drug cartels, endanger youth, and conflict with Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” messaging.
The ads are airing on Fox News and Fox Business Network, in a calculated effort to reach Trump directly. The campaign marks SAM’s most aggressive public push yet against the Biden-initiated rescheduling process.
“Rescheduling is a cartel tax cut,” said SAM President Kevin Sabet in a statement. “It gives Chinese Communist Party-backed cartels and Big Marijuana a taxpayer-subsidized path to dominate the market and target our kids.”
The group’s focus on the tax implications stems from marijuana’s current Schedule I status, which restricts legal cannabis businesses from claiming standard tax deductions under IRS code 280E. Reclassifying cannabis to Schedule III would remove that restriction, providing the industry significant financial relief.
One of SAM’s ads warns that “Chinese drug cartels are already embedded in America’s marijuana trade,” claiming rescheduling would reward bad actors. Another paints a dystopian picture of a “golden age” derailed by cannabis, while a third criticizes the normalization of marijuana amid efforts to improve public health.
Despite SAM’s alarm, legalization advocates argue that regulation—not prohibition—weakens illegal markets and protects consumers. They also point out that the rescheduling process remains stalled.
The DEA, now led by newly sworn-in Administrator Terrence Cole, has not committed to a timeline. A previous administrative law judge overseeing the case recently retired, following procedural disputes and allegations of improper conduct during the review.
While Trump has not publicly commented on the rescheduling debate in recent months, some GOP insiders say the issue could be a political opportunity. Polls suggest Republican voters—especially younger ones—increasingly support cannabis reform, putting added pressure on Trump as November’s election draws closer.
Read the whole article from Marijuanamoment here.
