Cannabis Insiders Imagine Smoke Sessions With Trump and Pope Leo
As the unofficial cannabis holiday of 420 approaches this Monday, many marijuana enthusiasts will be celebrating with their preferred methods of consumption. However, two notable figures are unlikely to join the festivities: President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV. The president, despite his administration's move to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III last December, is known to abstain from alcohol and drugs. Meanwhile, the pontiff hasn't specifically addressed cannabis but has previously stated that "drugs and addictions are an invisible prison."
Industry Professionals Weigh In on Hypothetical Highs
This hasn't stopped cannabis industry professionals from engaging in spirited debate about which leader they would prefer to share a smoke session with—or whether they'd choose both. The conversation reveals fascinating perspectives on politics, religion, and the future of cannabis reform.
Max Simon, founder of Green Flower which provides cannabis industry training, strongly favors Pope Leo. "I have a feeling that conversation would go somewhere genuinely interesting. Consciousness, suffering, grace, what it means to be human," Simon explained. "I'd be very curious if he feels closer to god with a little cannabis in his system."
Reggie Harris of House of Kush cannabis brand also selected the pope, noting that "getting the buy-in on the benefits of cannabis for health and well-being" would represent "huge validation" for the industry.
Practical Considerations and Political Calculations
Shai Ramsahai of Royal Queen Seeds international seedbank offered practical reasoning for his preference. "Trump feels like the kind of person who'd turn even a joint into a negotiation," he observed. "With the pope, at least there's a chance the conversation gets existential."
Harrison Bard of Custom Cones USA, which manufactures pre-rolls and wholesale bulk cones, chose Pope Leo for more hygienic concerns. "Pope Leo is not only a much more interesting guy, but there's no way I'd put my mouth on anything Donald Trump hit and then passed around a circle," Bard stated frankly.
Joe Gerrity of New Orleans-based Crescent Canna believes a brief conversation could sway Trump to support the industry, but ultimately selected the pontiff for linguistic reasons. "If you get high enough, 'pope' and 'smoke' basically rhyme. So I'm going to go with His Highliness," he quipped.
Advocates for Presidential Participation
Not all industry voices favor the religious leader. Mark Lewis of Lüt payment platform app admitted he'd prefer Trump. "I would really like to see and hear what he might say and do after a few bong hits!" Lewis exclaimed. "I'm sure it would be a high-energy, unpredictable conversation."
Kristin Rogers of Levia cannabis beverage company views smoking with the president as a patriotic duty despite political differences. "Maybe I'm a little masochistic, but as president, he has the power to fix the proven wrongs of the war on drugs," Rogers explained. "We know cannabis isn't killing people, and we know the damage done to minority communities. Even if he doesn't care about the humanity—why not be the hero?"
Jill Cohen, founder of Elevated by the CannaBoss Lady Dispensary in Maplewood, New Jersey, would also choose Trump, noting that "cannabis helps people move away from alcohol, and he dislikes alcohol." Cohen would use the opportunity to educate the president about industry benefits. "If the president supported legalization, it could improve banking access for our industry, lower taxes and allow interstate commerce," she emphasized.
Business Perspectives and Reform Priorities
Shauntel Ludwig, CEO of Synergy Innovations which manufactures DaVinci cannabis vaporizers, admitted she'd "love to watch him try to stay on topic" during a session with Trump. She added that between bowls, she'd ask about his unfulfilled promise to work with Congress on legalization. "I have a feeling the answer would be spectacular, best ever given," Ludwig speculated.
However, Donte West, who runs a cannabis brand focused on criminal justice reform, rejected the premise entirely. "I think too many people treat cannabis as a punchline when it is actually tied to business, medicine, public policy and human lives," West asserted. "So my answer is simple: whoever is ready to talk honestly about reform, that is who I would rather sit with."
The diverse opinions highlight how cannabis professionals balance personal preferences with strategic considerations as the industry continues to evolve amid changing regulations and social attitudes.
