Trump Should Reschedule Cannabis On The Way To Fully Descheduling It, Roger Stone Says

Roger Stone Pushes Trump to Lead on Federal Cannabis Reform

Republican political strategist Roger Stone is calling on former President Donald Trump to take bold action on cannabis reform, urging him to reschedule marijuana under federal law as a stepping stone toward eventual full descheduling.

In a new op-ed published Wednesday, Stone framed cannabis policy as one of the starkest examples of the disconnect between the American public and the federal government. He argued that Trump, who previously signed the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp, has already demonstrated his willingness to challenge Washington orthodoxy and could again do so by reshaping marijuana laws.

“If Trump makes the move to reschedule cannabis…he will be bringing Washington in line with the American people,” Stone wrote.

The Case for Rescheduling as a First Step

Stone dismissed the framing of cannabis reform as an “either/or” debate between rescheduling moving cannabis from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to a lower schedule and full descheduling, which would remove marijuana from the CSA entirely.

Instead, he called rescheduling a “critical next step” that would provide immediate, measurable relief to patients, entrepreneurs, and state-legal markets while setting the stage for broader reform.

Moving cannabis to Schedule III, Stone noted, would deliver several key benefits:

• Tax Relief for Businesses: Cannabis companies are currently barred from taking standard business deductions under IRS Code 280E. Rescheduling would eliminate that restriction, allowing marijuana businesses to be taxed like other industries.

• Access to Banking: Rescheduling would reduce the risk profile for financial institutions, potentially enabling regional banks and credit unions to provide accounts, loans, and payment processing to cannabis companies.

• Safer Markets: By reducing reliance on cash-only operations, rescheduling could lower crime risks and improve tax compliance.

• Expanded Research: Universities and pharmaceutical companies would face fewer hurdles in studying cannabis, generating new evidence to inform both policy and medical practice.

Cannabis Policy as a Political Opportunity

Stone highlighted Trump’s role in launching the hemp economy through the Farm Bill, saying it created “jobs, investment and innovation nationwide” and showcased the former president’s willingness to break with entrenched Washington thinking.

Now, Stone argued, Trump has a chance to “get things done” again by moving on marijuana reform where other leaders have stalled.

“Rescheduling is not the end game, but it is the critical next step,” Stone wrote. “Only through rescheduling can the studies happen, the myths be demolished, the banking bottleneck be relieved and the path to eventual descheduling be built on rock-solid evidence.”

Differentiating Cannabis Compounds

Stone also suggested that not all cannabis components should be treated equally under the law. He argued that hemp and CBD are already safe and should be fully descheduled, while THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, should remain under study until more robust research is available.

Such a phased approach, he said, would allow the federal government to balance scientific evidence with regulatory caution while still delivering relief to the industry and consumers.

Cannabis Reform as a Voter Issue

Polls consistently show that a majority of Americans support cannabis legalization in some form, with strong bipartisan backing for both medical and adult-use programs. Stone argued that Trump could seize on this issue as an opportunity to demonstrate alignment with the public while distinguishing himself from political rivals.

“The people are ready. The states are ready. The industry is desperate for certainty,” Stone wrote. “And the only man who has shown the will to act is Donald Trump.”

Trump’s Role in Shaping the Future of Cannabis Policy

While President Joe Biden’s administration has overseen an ongoing review of cannabis scheduling, including recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services, no final decision has yet been made. Stone’s op-ed places Trump at the center of the debate, positioning him as the political figure capable of delivering federal reform where others have faltered.

By pushing for rescheduling now, Stone argued, Trump would not only provide immediate benefits to the cannabis industry and patients but also cement his legacy as a leader willing to tackle entrenched policy failures.