Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is asking Donald Trump to stay the course on marijuana reform — and not let Congress derail the Biden administration’s effort to reclassify cannabis under federal law.
In a letter sent to Trump this week, Beshear reminded the former president that he previously voiced support for moving marijuana out of the strictest category of controlled substances. He urged him to oppose a provision in a congressional spending bill that would effectively freeze the Justice Department’s process to reclassify the drug, calling it an unfair mid-game move that could wreck public trust.
A Democratic Governor Appeals to a Republican Frontrunner
It’s not every day that a Democratic governor from a southern state pens a personal plea to the Republican presidential frontrunner. But marijuana reform continues to blur political lines.
Beshear, who has backed medical marijuana access and broader cannabis reforms in Kentucky, told Trump the country needs consistency.
“The rescheduling process should be allowed to play out,” he wrote. “Americans deserve leadership that won’t move the goalposts on them in the middle of the game.”
That phrase — “move the goalposts” — stood out. It hints at more than just political criticism. It suggests a concern that ordinary Americans, who’ve engaged in the rule-following process of federal reform, are about to be sidelined by backroom politics.
What’s Actually at Stake in the Spending Bill
Congressional Republicans have tucked in language within a broader appropriations package that would prevent the Justice Department from finalising any move to shift marijuana from Schedule I — the same category as heroin — to Schedule III, alongside substances like ketamine and testosterone.
The difference isn’t just semantics. If reclassified:
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Cannabis research would be easier to conduct
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Federal tax barriers for cannabis businesses would be lifted
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Perception of marijuana as a “dangerous, no-medical-value” drug would shift
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is currently reviewing the rescheduling proposal, which originated from a recommendation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in August 2023.
A wave of public support followed. More than 38,000 public comments flooded in. Beshear was one of them.
Trump’s Stance on Marijuana Has Been Murky
Trump has flip-flopped on marijuana before. On the campaign trail, he once said cannabis policy should be left to the states. He’s also flirted with supporting medical marijuana.
But during his presidency, his Department of Justice — under Attorney General Jeff Sessions — reversed Obama-era protections that shielded legal cannabis states from federal interference.
Still, Beshear insists Trump can course-correct.
“You supported this in your presidential campaign,” he wrote. “Now is the time to show you meant it.”
One sentence. No fluff.
Marijuana and the 2024 Election: More Than Just a Side Issue
While marijuana doesn’t usually headline presidential campaigns, it’s increasingly hard to ignore.
As of July 2025:
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38 states have legalised medical marijuana
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24 states allow adult recreational use
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More than 70% of Americans support federal cannabis reform, according to Pew Research
In battleground states like Arizona, Michigan and Pennsylvania, cannabis initiatives are popular with younger voters and independents. Blocking progress could alienate both groups.
That puts Trump in a tight spot. Support the congressional blockade and risk being seen as anti-reform — or break with GOP hardliners and support a Biden-initiated move.
Not an easy choice.
The Public Comment Period Showed Just How Much People Care
The DEA’s proposed shift from Schedule I to Schedule III opened the door to a 60-day public comment period earlier this year. Tens of thousands responded.
It wasn’t just activists or business leaders. Patients, parents, veterans and even law enforcement weighed in.
Here’s what the DEA heard in broad numbers:
| Group | Estimated Submissions | Core Message |
|---|---|---|
| Patients | 10,000+ | Access matters — don’t criminalise relief |
| Veterans | 4,000+ | Cannabis helps PTSD — let research grow |
| Healthcare Pros | 3,500+ | Schedule I status limits patient care |
| Business Owners | 2,800+ | Rescheduling unlocks banking, tax fairness |
| Law Enforcement | 900+ | Resources wasted on low-level cannabis arrests |
Even with occasional outliers, the message was clear: Don’t block reform. Let it play out.
Kentucky, Cannabis and a Changing Political Landscape
Kentucky hasn’t always been on the forefront of cannabis reform. But in recent years, public attitudes have softened.
In 2023, Beshear signed a bill creating a regulated medical marijuana programme — a major shift in a historically conservative state.
Polls show that nearly 60% of Kentuckians support full cannabis legalisation, with even higher numbers in favour of medical access. For Beshear, this isn’t just national politics — it’s also local momentum.
And Trump still holds strong sway in Kentucky, having won the state by double digits in 2020. Beshear’s letter is both strategic and symbolic.
Will Trump Respond?
So far, Trump hasn’t responded publicly. Neither his campaign nor his Truth Social account has addressed the spending bill’s cannabis language. His policy team remains tight-lipped.
But insiders say Trump advisers are weighing the political optics carefully. Coming out against cannabis reform could hurt him with younger libertarian-leaning Republicans — a growing slice of the base.
Beshear’s move is an early test of how cannabis policy might shape debates heading into the final stretch of the 2024 campaign. It’s a high-stakes policy scuffle tucked inside an appropriations bill, but one that could echo well beyond budget season.
