When President Donald Trump attended the U.S. Open tennis finals in Queens this September, he may have encountered more than competitive sport. Several athletes competing in the tournament complained of a pervasive cannabis smell, with German tennis star Alexander Zverev comparing the atmosphere to “Snoop Dogg’s living room.” The incident highlights a broader question facing the Trump administration: should federal restrictions on cannabis be relaxed further?

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Trump was considering cannabis reclassification as a Schedule III drug under federal rules. Whilst he has yet to take this step, emerging evidence about the consequences of marijuana liberalisation suggests caution is warranted.

The Scale of Cannabis Use in America

The backdrop to any cannabis reclassification debate is stark. Recreational marijuana is now legal in 24 states and Washington, D.C., whilst medical marijuana is permitted in 40 states. Public support appears strong, with almost 90 per cent of Americans backing some form of marijuana legalisation. Even Trump’s own political base remains divided on the issue.

Usage statistics reveal the extent of cannabis normalisation. Research indicates that approximately 16 per cent of twelfth graders had used marijuana within the past 30 days, with 5 per cent identified as daily users. Amongst older demographics, cannabis reclassification advocates often overlook concerning trends: marijuana use by those 65 and older increased by 46 per cent between 2021 and 2023, with 7 per cent of this age group reporting drug use in the past month.

Health Risks Beyond the Haze

This widespread prevalence may finally be revealing the dangerous consequences of marijuana mainstreaming. Recent studies have identified increasing evidence of associations between cannabis use and poor heart health, heart attacks, and cardiovascular death. The risks extend to mental health, with research now linking marijuana consumption with suicidal ideation and schizophrenia, particularly amongst young people.

Even users who avoid such severe outcomes face significant life challenges. Cannabis consumers demonstrate poorer academic performance, reduced earnings, and lower workforce participation, with drug use increasingly affecting their work performance. They are also statistically less likely to marry.

Despite popular culture’s dismissal of cannabis addiction, research shows that 20 per cent of users display signs of cannabis use disorder. The widespread availability of marijuana edibles has led to a surge in cannabis-related poisoning incidents, rising from 909 cases in 2009 to 22,000 last year. Some victims are children as young as two years old.

What Cannabis Reclassification Would Mean

The reclassification Trump is considering would not dramatically alter marijuana’s legal status. Some criminal penalties would be reduced; others would remain. Classifying cannabis as a Schedule III rather than Schedule I drug would apply the same federal regulations currently governing substances such as testosterone and ketamine.

Proponents argue that cannabis reclassification would enable medical research and allow marijuana businesses greater tax advantages. However, these commercial benefits risk exacerbating the ill effects of marijuana legalisation. In many jurisdictions, liberalisation has paradoxically fuelled continued growth in the black market for cannabis.

Alternative Approaches to Cannabis Policy

Better policy options exist. The Trump administration could advance medical research without rescheduling, as policy experts have suggested. Congress has already passed legislation designed for this purpose: the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Act (MMCREA). Smaller, more targeted measures that simplify medical research would expand knowledge about the drug’s effects without contributing to its further normalisation.

At his most effective, Donald Trump has challenged elite consensus, resisted pressure from big business, and supported robust public order enforcement. Whether the cannabis smell at the U.S. Open influenced his thinking or not, declining to pursue marijuana reclassification would align with all three principles.

The evidence increasingly suggests that cannabis liberalisation carries significant public health costs. As more data emerges about the consequences of marijuana mainstreaming, from cardiovascular risks to addiction rates to child poisonings, the case for proceeding cautiously with any cannabis reclassification grows stronger. Trump has an opportunity to prioritise public health over commercial interests and resist the transformation of America into, as one athlete put it, “Snoop Dogg’s living room.”

Update (October 2025): Since this article was published, the Drug Enforcement Administration has confirmed that marijuana’s rescheduling review remains pending. Meanwhile, former President Trump has publicly endorsed CBD use amongst seniors, signalling possible openness to limited cannabis reform, but no final policy has been made.

Source: National Review