Marijuana reform could unify a fractured nation

Trump owes it to his young, white, male, and Black male supporters: He needs to usher in a new era of cannabis prosperity in the U.S.

In fact, Trump owes all of us marijuana reform.

According to an article from Politico, during his presidential campaign Trump promised marijuana reforms. Now he has the chance to reach across the aisle and make them happen. On Friday, U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler introduced legislation called the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement, or MORE Act. “Over the past two decades, public support for legalizing marijuana has surged and states across the nation have taken on state-level legalization of marijuana,” Nadler’s office explained in a statement. “The MORE Act decriminalizes marijuana at the federal level, ending the patchwork of states laws. The bill also aims to correct the historical and continued injustices of failed drug policies that have disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income communities by requiring resentencing and expungement of prior convictions, creating new opportunities for individuals as they work to advance their careers, education, and overall quality of life. The MORE Act also ensures that all benefits in the law are available to juvenile offenders.”

An endorsement from The Donald?

Predictably, the legislation is backed by progressive lawmakers like Ilhan Omar and Dina Titus. But what if the next surprise endorsement came from Trump? Before you scoff, consider this: Marijuana legalization is no longer a fringe issue. It’s mainstream, bipartisan, and backed by over two-thirds of Americans. Red states like Montana and Missouri have embraced it. Veterans use it for PTSD. Seniors use it for arthritis. Entrepreneurs use it to build businesses. The only thing more outdated than federal prohibition is the assumption that marijuana reform belongs to the left.

What could be more palatable to Americans than a “joint” endorsement by both political parties to decriminalize marijuana? A true populist believes in less government. The prohibition of marijuana, known for its medicinal qualities, is curious in a society where every other ad on television is for a pill. Healthcare is big business, and an extremely pro-medical establishment propaganda machine keeps the public talking about how terrible marijuana is for you. This is exactly the sort of swampy thing Trump likes to talk about.Trump’s Democratic roots

Don’t forget, Trump used to be a Democrat. According to SBS News Australia, Trump first registered as a member of the Republican Party in 1987. But records show that since then he's changed his party affiliation five times, SBS News reported. Then, in October 1999, he joined the Independence Party of New York, according to SBS, and not long after, he declared himself a potential candidate for the Reform Party's presidential nomination for the 2000 election. But after just four months, Trump withdrew from the race, SBS reported.

Then in 2001, Trump became a Democrat — and remained one for eight years, according to SBS. He even contributed to Kamala Harris’ California Attorney General campaign, SBS reported. In 2012, Trump returned to the Republican Party, according to SBS, and has become the central figure in its resurrection. He told CNN in 2004, "It just seems that the economy does better under the Democrats than the Republicans."

Grass is good for the economy

Indeed, legalizing marijuana can be great for the economy, especially according to Democrats. “Advocates of legalizing the use of marijuana for recreational purposes sometimes argue that taking such a step could potentially create economic benefits,” according to a Congressional focus paper. “For example, when Colorado voters considered Amendment 64 in 2012—an ultimately successful ballot initiative to allow recreational marijuana in the state—the Colorado legislature's accompanying nonpartisan voting guide noted that one of the arguments in favor of the amendment was that ‘the measure will … add sales tax revenue and may add job opportunities to the state economy.’”

A shrewd move for a populist

President Trump has flirted with cannabis reform before. His administration considered rescheduling marijuana earlier this year. He’s long positioned himself as a populist outsider—someone who bucks establishment norms and speaks to forgotten Americans. Supporting marijuana legalization would be a populist masterstroke: A chance to connect with libertarians, veterans, small business owners, and communities ravaged by over-policing.

It would also be a rare moment of national unity. Imagine Trump and Nadler—two men who’ve clashed bitterly—standing on common ground. Not because they agree on everything, but because they agree on one thing: The War on Drugs has failed. That kind of “joint” support (pun intended) could send a powerful message to a fractured nation: That even in an era of division, progress is possible.