A new report reveals that former President Donald Trump was so eager to announce a major shift in U.S. drug policy this month that his staff had to urgently intervene to stop him from revealing the news prematurely. According to a Saturday report from the Wall Street Journal, this dramatic scene unfolded during a crucial meeting that ultimately led to the historic reclassification of cannabis.
The Oval Office Intervention
The pivotal meeting took place in early December and included Kim Rivers, the CEO of the Florida-based cannabis company Trulieve, Trump confidante Howard Kessler, and Florida Sheriff Gordon Smith. After extensive lobbying and significant donations from the marijuana industry, the president was convinced to follow through on a campaign promise. He agreed to move cannabis from its long-standing status as a Schedule I substance to the less restrictive Schedule III category.
Eager to claim credit immediately, Trump told those in the room he planned to announce the decision on his Truth Social platform before any official paperwork, like an executive order, had even been drafted. Sheriff Smith recalled the situation becoming heated as lawyers and Oval Office staffers tried to dissuade their boss. "The lawyers and his staff, they started yelling, 'No sir, you can’t yet; there’s a 30-day period, it’s gotta go through this and that,'" Smith told the Journal. "They had to stop him from posting."
A Historic Policy Shift Finalized
Despite the internal drama, the policy change moved forward and was made official with an executive order on December 18, 2025. This action marked a seismic change in American drug policy, directly flouting the wishes of a sizable faction of Republicans who opposed the move. Notably, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson reportedly participated in the meeting via speakerphone, arguing that marijuana was a dangerous "gateway drug."
For over five decades, since the Controlled Substances Act became law in 1970, cannabis had been classified as a Schedule I drug. This category, which includes substances like heroin and LSD, is defined as having "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse." The reclassification to Schedule III, which includes drugs with moderate to low potential for dependence, recognizes cannabis's medical applications and represents a fundamental shift in the federal government's stance.
Implications and Reactions
The move by Trump, who is a teetotaler and has historically taken a hard stance against illicit drugs, surprised many political observers. Sheriff Smith described the entire episode as a "surreal" display, telling the Wall Street Journal, "I was in awe of the whole thing." The report underscores the intense behind-the-scenes negotiations and the significant influence of industry lobbying that paved the way for one of the most substantial drug policy reforms in modern U.S. history.
This executive order has wide-ranging implications for research, banking, and taxation within the cannabis industry, potentially unlocking new economic opportunities while altering the legal landscape surrounding the substance at the federal level.
