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As two people whose lives have been profoundly affected by cannabis, we are encouraged Recent statements by President Donald Trump support long-term reforms to US cannabis policy. His commitment to changing the term for cannabis, providing banking access to cannabis businesses and granting clemency to individuals serving federal sentences for cannabis offenses reflects a bold vision of justice and economic opportunity.
For years, cannabis reform has been promised but rarely fulfilled in Washington. During his campaign, President Joe Biden promised to decriminalize marijuana, expunge records and release those imprisoned for cannabis.
His widely publicized misdemeanor pardons were not effective enough to make a significant difference mass incarceration for those with marijuana convictions. They freed no one, restored no civil rights (since misdemeanors do not result in loss of civil rights), and expunged no records — changes only Congress can enact.
Even Biden’s recent wave of pardons, which granted commutations to nearly 2,500 people, largely bypassed marijuana offenders. A few cases succeeded, but only because they overlapped with reforms from the First Step Act, which dealt with tougher penalties for drug offenses. This failure to prioritize marijuana pardons is baffling. Of all those affected by tough drug policies, individuals serving time for marijuana-related crimes are among those most deserving of help.
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Meanwhile, cannabis is still classified as a Drug from schedule I — same category as heroin – under federal law. This outdated classification prevents legitimate cannabis businesses from accessing banking services, forcing them to do business in cash, which encourages crime and stunts growth. Despite controlling Congress and the presidency for two years, Democrats have failed to enact meaningful cannabis reform.
Cannabis laws vary from state to state and President Donald Trump could help fix that. FILE: A cannabis plant near harvest grows in a grow room at the Greenleaf Medical Cannabis facility on June 17, 2021 in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Trump has proven he can deliver. One of us (Weldon Angelos) worked with his administration on the First Step Act and pardon initiatives, culminating in a full presidential pardon by Trump in 2020 after serving 13 years of a draconian 55-year sentence for marijuana.
Another of us (Mike Tyson), boxing champion, entrepreneur, long-time cannabis advocate and founder of global cannabis brand TYSON 2.0, has witnessed how the cannabis industry can transform lives and create meaningful opportunities. Through TYSON 2.0, he presented cannabis as more than a product – it’s a powerful platform for wellness, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Tyson has known Trump for decades and can attest that Trump is a man of his word. We both know from personal experience that Trump is willing to take bold and compassionate steps. His recent support for cannabis reform, banking reform and amnesty underscores his understanding of what’s at stake — for the economy, for justice and for the thousands of families torn apart by outdated cannabis laws.
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His support for cannabis reform is more than justice — it’s opportunity. The cannabis industry is a multi-billion dollar market, employing hundreds of thousands of Americans and generating significant tax revenue. However, the federal ban continues to hamper its potential.
At the same time, thousands of individuals remain in prison for cannabis-related offenses, often serving disproportionately long sentences for activities that are now legal in much of the country. These sentences have torn apart families and communities.
Changing the term for cannabis and granting clemency to those imprisoned for it are key steps towards correcting these injustices. We agree with Trump that it is time to “enact common sense laws, including safe banking,” and that it is difficult to have people in jail for something that is now legal in many cases.
Democrats had a chance to act and failed. Biden’s inability to deliver on his promises is a betrayal of countless Americans who believed in his message of justice and reform. Now is the time for Trump to take up the mantle and do what Biden and the Democrats couldn’t.
For years, cannabis reform has been promised but rarely fulfilled in Washington.
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Rescheduling cannabis, pro-banking the industry, and granting amnesty to Americans imprisoned for marijuana aren’t partisan issues—they’re American issues. They represent fairness, opportunity and a long-overdue commitment to equality before the law. We believe that Trump has the vision, courage and determination to finally make this a reality.
Now is the time for significant change, and we are optimistic that President Donald Trump will be the leader to make it happen.
Weldon Angelos is a music producer; president of the Weldon Project and criminal justice reform advocate who received a full presidential pardon from President Donald Trump after serving more than 12 years in federal prison for marijuana offenses.
