CatholicVote launches campaign urging Trump to reject marijuana rescheduling plans
- Fox News correspondent Mark Meredith reports on a possible decision by President Donald Trump to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance, which would ease restrictions and allow more medical research.
- CatholicVote has launched a campaign urging Trump to reject this reclassification, warning it would falsely signal marijuana is safe and medically proven despite lacking FDA approval and long-term safety studies.
- The campaign argues that rescheduling marijuana risks repeating mistakes similar to the tobacco crisis by prioritizing profit from the $32 billion marijuana industry over public health, particularly the well-being of children and communities.
- CatholicVote describes marijuana as a dangerous gateway drug linked to addiction, mental health issues, and developmental harms, and encourages the public to contact President Trump to oppose loosening restrictions.
Fox News correspondent Mark Meredith has the latest on the possible decision that could reshape the cannabis industry on 'Special Report.'
CatholicVote has launched a campaign to urge President Donald Trump to reject a potential move to loosen restrictions on marijuana.
"Rescheduling cannabis would falsely signal that it’s safe and medically proven, when it hasn’t gone through FDA approval or long-term safety studies," Kelsey Reinhardt, CatholicVote president and CEO, told Fox News Digital in a statement.
"That’s exactly how America sleepwalked into the tobacco crisis – approve first, reckon later," Reinhardt added. "We shouldn’t repeat that mistake. This isn’t about nostalgia or personal freedom; it’s about protecting public health, children, and communities from a drug that is already doing real harm. States like Massachusetts are now trying to reduce recreational use. It is only the $32 billion for-profit marijuana industry that wants the president to ease restrictions even further. They are not interested in making life better for Americans, but only in growing their customer base and turning our children into lifelong users of this highly addictive drug."
FATAL CRASH REPORT FINDS NEARLY HALF OF DEADLY WRECKS TIED TO ILLEGAL DRUG
CatholicVote has launched a campaign to urge President Donald Trump to reject a potential move to loosen restrictions on marijuana. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Marijuana is currently a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act, which classifies it as a high-abuse drug without accepted medical use.
Trump is weighing reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug, which would regulate it as a drug with only a moderate to low potential for abuse, and permitted for medical treatment, but with a potential for moderate to high psychological dependence. It would remain illegal for recreational use.
Trump said he is "considering" making marijuana a Schedule III drug and said, "A lot of people want to see it, the reclassification, because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can’t be done unless you reclassify."
MAJOR CANNABIS STUDY FINDS LITTLE PROOF FOR POPULAR MEDICAL CLAIMS, FLAGS BIG DANGERS
Marijuana is currently a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act, which classifies it as a high-abuse drug without accepted medical use. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
"Today’s marijuana is far more potent than in the past, and its long-term effects are still unfolding," the CatholicVote campaign page reads. "Rescheduling it now would repeat the tragic history of Big Tobacco—approving first, paying later. People aren’t just getting high. They’re getting addicted, hospitalized, and harmed. Tell President Trump to stop the rescheduling of cannabis."
The page for the campaign calls marijuana a "dangerous" gateway drug, and claims that approximately 1 in 3 users becomes addicted, that it can create increased rates of psychosis, schizophrenia, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, and is responsible for teen brain damage, diminished IQ, and stunted emotional development. (iStock)
The page asks users to email Trump to ask him to reconsider his push to lessen marijuana restrictions.