No Action on Cannabis from Trump So Far
disappointment came previously with banking
Sources said Trump has directly pressured lawmakers to support cannabis banking, though he has no plans to take any action on the issue.
Sources said Trump has directly pressured lawmakers to support cannabis banking, though he has no plans to take any action on the issue.
The president has not spoken about any cannabis-related issues since he officially became president in January 2025.
A White House official told CNN that “we are not considering any action at this time” on cannabis.
CNN also reported that three sources familiar with the negotiations said Trump and his transition team are trying to convince Congress to include a measure that would protect banks that do business with legal cannabis operators in individual states.
The big disappointment came the last time banking reform was in the spotlight. The bill, which passed a Senate committee in 2023, never saw the light of day during a vote in the full chamber. The same reform was made a legislative priority by the then-Democratic leadership.
On banking reform, Trump could certainly try to sway the Republican-majority Congress to support the Safe And Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Act. But that process was halted when the government changed hands in the recent election.
Some possible pros and cons point toward what could happen next. Newly elected Justice Department Secretary Pam Bondi has so far declined to comment on how cannabis policy should be handled.
At the same time, older Republicans believe that cannabis messaging could help attract younger voters in 2026. Support for legalisation appears to be generally high across the party’s right wing.
“A 57% majority of Republicans ages 18 to 29 support legalising cannabis for medical and recreational use, compared with 52% of those ages 30 to 49 and a much smaller share among older Republicans,” according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey
More From Soft Secrets
L
Liz Filmer
