Hold the applause—nearly half of the Senate Republican Conference is pushing back hard against President Donald Trump’s bold move to loosen marijuana restrictions, sounding the alarm on health and economic fallout.
According to The Hill, on Thursday, December 18, 2025, Trump signed an executive order to downgrade marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance, aiming to boost cannabis research, but a significant bloc of GOP senators argues this undercuts public safety and economic priorities, urging a reversal.
This isn’t just a policy spat; it’s a clash between innovative intent and grounded caution, especially when progressive experiments with drug leniency have often left communities grappling with unintended chaos.
Back in August 2025, Trump hinted at his openness to finalizing the rescheduling process, a move left incomplete by the prior administration. Now, his executive action directs the attorney general to wrap it up swiftly.
Yet, Republican senators, led by Sen. Ted Budd of North Carolina, alongside key leadership like Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming and Senate Republican Conference Chair Tom Cotton of Arkansas, penned a sharp letter of dissent.
Interestingly, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota opted not to join the signatories, which also included heavyweights such as Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma and former Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, signaling that not all in the party are aligned against Trump’s vision.
The senators insist marijuana must stay classified as Schedule I, alongside substances like heroin, due to its high abuse potential and absence of FDA-sanctioned medical use.
They point to research tying cannabis to severe mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and even psychotic breaks, alongside a disturbing Minneapolis incident from earlier in 2025 where a shooter blamed his behavior partly on marijuana use.
Their letter warns, “Additionally, marijuana has long-term effects on brain health, including ‘permanent IQ loss’ when use begins at a young age,” a sobering reminder that youthful experimentation isn’t always harmless, especially when trendy narratives downplay such risks.
Beyond health, the senators argue rescheduling clashes with Trump’s goal of revitalizing American manufacturing, claiming it jeopardizes workplace safety and productivity.
They cite data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the CDC showing marijuana impairs judgment, leading to more industrial mishaps, injuries, and absenteeism, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration flags its role in higher car crash rates.
“We cannot reindustrialize America if we encourage marijuana use. America’s workplace and America’s roads are endangered by marijuana use,” the letter declares—a pointed jab at policies that might prioritize research over the grit of a sober, working nation.
Adding fuel to their critique, the senators highlight that reclassification would hand cannabis businesses a hefty tax windfall, currently blocked from deductions under specific tax code provisions. They estimate this could save the industry around $2.3 billion, potentially spurring aggressive marketing and expansion across more states, a move they see as counter to fostering healthy American lifestyles.
While Trump’s leadership often cuts through bureaucratic red tape, this GOP pushback suggests a need to weigh if easing drug rules aligns with rebuilding a robust economy—or if it risks handing a win to an industry that might not prioritize the nation’s well-being over profit, a concern that even the most open-minded conservative must ponder.