Two conservative Republican senators are putting the brakes on the Trump administration's plan to reclassify marijuana, filing an amendment that could block the Justice Department from moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III status.
Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and James Lankford (R-OK) submitted the blocking amendment to the three-bill appropriations package that passed the House on January 8th. Their move would prevent the Trump administration from using federal appropriations to reschedule the drug - a policy shift that has caught some conservative lawmakers off guard.
The amendment represents a rare moment of pushback against President Trump's second-term agenda from within his own party, highlighting the complex politics surrounding marijuana policy even among America First conservatives.
Constitutional Concerns Drive Opposition
For Senators Budd and Lankford, this isn't about being anti-Trump - it's about limiting federal overreach and protecting state sovereignty. Both senators have consistently championed constitutional principles and opposed expanding federal bureaucracy's power over issues traditionally handled by states.
The rescheduling move, while supported by some Trump allies as a criminal justice reform measure, raises questions about federal agencies wielding too much power over drug classification without proper congressional oversight.
"We've spent years fighting the administrative state's overreach," a conservative policy expert noted. "Some Republicans are concerned that rescheduling through executive action - even under Trump - sets a precedent for future Democrat administrations to manipulate drug schedules for political purposes."
MAGA Base Split on Issue
The marijuana rescheduling issue has created an interesting divide within the America First movement. While many Trump supporters back criminal justice reform and reducing incarceration for non-violent offenses, traditional conservatives remain wary of any policies that could be seen as encouraging drug use.
This amendment fight will test whether President Trump's influence can overcome principled conservative opposition within his own party - or whether senators like Budd and Lankford will stand firm on constitutional grounds.
Will Trump's team find a way to bring these conservative senators on board, or does this signal broader resistance to federal drug policy changes? The answer could shape how the administration approaches other controversial reforms moving forward.