Trump Adviser and Jesse Ventura Partner to Legalize Marijuana

Roger Stone has been a Trump adviser for a long time, but he now has a different mission: nationwide marijuana legalization. At the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo on Friday, Stone announced his plans to lobby for the end of federal prohibition. He introduced the United States Cannabis Coalition (USCC) advocacy group, in which he will be involved.

Joining forces with Stone will be former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, according to Business Insider. The purpose of the advocacy group will be to protect state’s rights when it comes to marijuana legalization and regulation. The USCC is not wasting any time; they’ve already registered with the IRS as a section 527 nonprofit organization. They will be tax-exempt.

Stone said, “I am going to be working with a coalition of Republicans and Democrats, progressives and libertarians, liberals and conservatives to persuade the president to keep his campaign pledge and remind the president that he took a strong and forthright position on this issue in the election.”

Stone noted decreased incarceration rates in states where some form of marijuana is legal. He also noted a decline in opioid overdoses in those same states. Tax revenue and job creation were also included in his commentary.

Trump said to The Washington Post in his 2016 campaigning process that marijuana legalization is a state issue and that he 100% supports medical marijuana.

Other than ending federal marijuana prohibition, a secondary mission of the USCC is to reschedule marijuana so that doctors can prescribe it legally and research can be done easier. They will also ensure federal government interference is thwarted. The USCC also wants to establish a fair tax policy for legally operating marijuana businesses, normalizing them so that they can work with banks.

Stone believes that Trump’s voiced support for state’s rights is what won him the election. While Stone may be close to Trump, it’s not sure how much clout he has left with AG Sessions seeming to want to turn the tables.

Stone said, “In all honesty, it’s time for [President Trump] to tell Attorney General Jeff Sessions to cut the shit.”

Stone isn’t just calling out President Trump and Jeff Sessions, he’s also calling out John Kelly who has also called for a federal crackdown.

Stone said, “It’s our intention to identify, reach and mobilize millions of pro-cannabis voters to urge the President to keep his word. It’s our intention to lobby the Trump Administration from the top down to recognize the medicinal value and economic potential of cannabis.”