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Donald Trump’s choice of Florida Representative Matt Gaetz as the next Attorney General has sparked controversy across party lines. Gaetz’s resignation from his congressional seat followed shortly after the announcement, just days before the House Ethics Committee was expected to address an ongoing investigation into allegations against him. These accusations, which Gaetz has denied, include claims of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.
The nomination raises uncertainty about Senate approval, but it has already ignited significant interest within the cannabis industry. According to David Culver, senior vice president of public affairs at the U.S. Marijuana Council, Gaetz is among the most cannabis-friendly Republican lawmakers in Washington.
Culver noted that Trump’s decision to nominate Gaetz might indicate a serious commitment to advancing marijuana reform, a position the president-elect highlighted during his campaign.
Gaetz has consistently argued for marijuana reform, even though he rejected Amendment 3, a Florida initiative to legalize marijuana for recreational use that fell short of the necessary 60% voter approval. During his time as a state legislator, he sponsored Florida’s first bill to legalize medical cannabis.
After transitioning to Congress, he continued to push for change, supporting measures such as eliminating cannabis testing for the military. Notably, he was the only GOP co-sponsor of the MORE Act,which sought to expunge some convictions linked to marijuana and remove it from the federal restricted substances list, though the bill stalled in the Senate.
Even before Gaetz’s nomination, there was cautious optimism about how the Trump administration might handle marijuana policy. While Trump has not formally backed federal cannabis legalization, he supported Florida’s Amendment 3 and expressed interest in collaborating with Congress to provide marijuana companies access to banking systems.
He also indicated a willingness to continue efforts initiated under the Biden administration to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I drug—considered to have no medical use—to a less restrictive Schedule III designation, grouping it with substances like anabolic steroids and ketamine.
Culver noted that Trump’s staffing decisions, including Gaetz, signal a positive outlook for federal marijuana reform. He also speculated that Gaetz could introduce updated guidelines for federal prosecutors to avoid interference in state-regulated markets.
Other marijuana advocates and industry leaders have also embraced the news. Boris Jordan, CEO of Curaleaf Holdings Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF), shared videos of Gaetz discussing marijuana regulation where the congressman pledged to support relaxed cannabis policies. Meanwhile, groups like NORML are calling for Gaetz to spearhead efforts to delist marijuana from the CSA entirely, drawing comparisons to alcohol regulation.
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