Trump pressured to join Joe Rogan in push to declassify marijuana and other recreational drugs for research

President Donald Trump is coming under increasing pressure to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a move backed by some of his most high-profile supporters.  

A new ad campaign wants to make sure the White House is aware of the economic benefits of rescheduling it to a section 3 drug, allowing it to be studied for potential health benefits.

The American Rights and Reform PAC has launched an investment of over $1 million in the next month to run ads on Fox News, streaming, and digital markets in the Washington DC and West Palm Beach markets.

One ad notes that millions of American patients rely on medical marijuana, noting that 'Joe Biden and Democrats classify their medication as a dangerous narcotic like heroin.'

The campaign is backed by marijuana business interests who argue that reclassifying marijuana would allow scientists to study it for potential health and treatment benefits.

'President Trump has the opportunity to do something that would be historic and remembered forever if he decides to move forward with re-scheduling cannabis,' a person involved with the campaign told DailyMail.com.

A second ad, featuring former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, warns that Canada is 'attacking' American cannabis companies and 'cashing in' on the product while America falls behind. 

'This is an America first fight,' the ad notes, urging the president to 'reschedule cannabis and put America first.'

The idea behind the campaign is to convince government regulators to shift marijuana from a schedule 1 drug, which has been determined to have no medical value and have a high potential for abuse, to a schedule 3 drug, which allows some medical value despite it's potential for abuse.

Advocates argue that marijuana and psilocybin no longer rank with other deadly drugs like heroin and should be reclassified, allowing it to be studied.

Even if they were rescheduled as schedule 3 drugs, they would not be legal for recreational use. 

The pair of ads demonstrates the delicate balance of the Trump administration's political stance on the issue.

Traditional conservatives are generally not supportive of legalizing marijuana, but a growing number of influential podcasters and new media figures support the idea.

Podcaster Joe Rogan routinely mentions the benefits of rescheduling marijuana and psychedelic psilocybin for medical research, citing successful anecdotal testimonies and treatments for veterans.

During the 2024 campaign, Rogan spent a significant amount of time speaking with JD Vance about the issue during their October 31 interview.

'I know a bunch of different guys that have gone down to Mexico and had psilocybin journeys and all these different things where they've encountered these experiences that have made them sort of rethink who they are,' said Rogan.

'(It) alleviated them of a lot of the stress and a lot of the trauma that they've experienced and given them peace,' Rogan said, making the case for more attention to the issue.

Vance indicated he was open to the idea, noting that he was generally fine with people using marijuana at home but 'I don't like smelling it when I take my kids to the park.'

'What I'd like to get is, is some sort of legal regime that, you know, again, it's not like criminally prosecuting or prosecuting at all people for smoking a joint, but also where we can actually ensure that it's kept out of public spaces,' he said.

Vance admitted during the interview he largely unaware of the argument to reclassify some recreational drugs, but indicated that as a veteran he was open to the idea of alternative treatments.

Advocates are hopeful that Trump will act to make a change on the issue, citing his position during the presidential campaign.

Trump announced on social media in September that he would support Amendment 3 in Florida which would have legalized recreational use of marijuana in the state, but called for 'smart regulations' and research.

'As President, we will continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug, and work with Congress to pass common sense laws, including SAFE banking for state authorized companies, and supporting states rights to pass marijuana laws, like in Florida, that work so well for their citizens,' he wrote.

The Amendment failed to reach the 60 percent threshold required to pass, but 55 percent of Florida voters supported it.

In some ways, Trumps shift on the issue is remarkable as his first Attorney General Jeff Sessions, appointed in 2015, had a famously hardline stance against marijuana, especially on the issue of legalization or loosening restrictions for medical use. 

The American Rights and Reform PAC believes that reclassifying the recreational drug to a schedule 3 drug would be a good first step to open up a future economic industry. 

Biden indicated he was open to the idea, after his Justice Department asked the Drug Enforcement Administration to 'consider' rescheduling the drug, but failed to act definitively before he left office.

Now cannabis advocates are trying to convince Trump to act as a 'bold change agent' to finish what Biden could not complete.

'Not only would it be hugely popular with Americans across the political spectrum, but it would allow vital medical research to move forward and would benefit our economy and create more American jobs,' a person involved with the ad campaign told DailyMail.com.