President Trump Wants Todd Blanche to Finalize Marijuana Rescheduling as Interim Attorney General
- President Trump urges interim Attorney General Todd Blanche to finalize moving marijuana to Schedule III without waiting for Senate confirmation of a permanent AG.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi is stepping down, with Blanche set to take over as interim AG, potentially speeding up the marijuana rescheduling process.
- Potential permanent replacements for Bondi include Lee Zeldin, who supports some marijuana reforms, and Judge Jeanine Pirro, who supports medical CBD but opposes recreational legalization.
- Trump is committed to expediting marijuana rescheduling, especially to precede the CMS program launch that offers Medicare beneficiaries CBD product coverage.
President Donald Trump wants interim Attorney General Todd Blanche to sign a final rule moving marijuana to Schedule III rather than waiting for the Senate to confirm a permanent attorney general, according to a senior advisor to the president who spoke with The Marijuana Herald.
The development comes as Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Thursday that she is stepping down, with Blanche taking over as interim AG. If Blanche follows through, it could keep the long-stalled rescheduling process moving without the added delay of waiting for a new attorney general to be nominated and confirmed.
The same advisor told us in March that Trump was considering removing Pam Bondi due to frustrations over marijuana rescheduling and other issues.
The two names viewed as the most likely contenders to replace Bondi long-term are Lee Zeldin and Judge Jeanine Pirro.
Zeldin has a more established record on marijuana policy. During his time in Congress, he voted in favor of marijuana banking legislation, backed measures to expand medical marijuana access for military veterans, and supported protections for state medical marijuana programs from federal interference. While he has not emerged as a leading voice for broad legalization, his voting record indicates a willingness to support marijuana reform.
Pirro’s record is more limited, but she has voiced support for CBD and medical marijuana while opposing the legalization of recreational marijuana.
The advisor, who asked not to be named, said Trump’s position has not changed since signing the executive order directing that the rescheduling process move forward quickly.
“When Trump signed the rescheduling executive order and said he wanted the process completed expeditiously, he meant it”, the advisor said. “He does not want any further delays in getting the plant rescheduled. That is especially true given that he made it clear to Pam he wanted it done before the launch of the CMS program.”
The CMS program referenced by the advisor launched April 1 and allows certain Medicare beneficiaries to receive up to $500 per year in CBD products, including some containing up to 3 milligrams of THC per serving.
If Blanche signs the final rule as interim AG, it would take effect 30 days later.