“As everyone knows, I was, and will be again, the most respected LAW & ORDER President in U.S. History. We will take our streets back by being tough & smart on violent, & all other types, of Crime,” read Trump’s Truth Social post. “In Florida, like so many other States that have already given their approval, personal amounts of marijuana will be legalized for adults with Amendment 3. Whether people like it or not, this will happen through the approval of the Voters, so it should be done correctly.” 

The former president’s comments drew much criticism, especially among conservatives and Republicans. They also caught the eye of the organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a policy group that is “an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy. We are professionals working in mental health and public health. We are bipartisan. We are medical doctors, lawmakers, treatment providers, preventionists, teachers, law enforcement officers, and others who seek a middle road between incarceration and legalization.”

Suffice it to say, SAM was none too pleased with Trump’s comments. Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of the organization and a former White House drug policy adviser to Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, was critical of Trump’s decision to embrace the legalization of recreational marijuana. 

“Trump’s endorsement of marijuana is confusing and hypocritical for a ‘law and order’ candidate who claims to support families,” read Sabet’s statement. “It also fails to recognize the threats posed by an industry that makes a profit off of high-potency vapes, edible drug products, and THC-infused drinks, not smelly joints.”

Sabet elaborated on the potential dangers associated with legalized recreational marijuana. He also urged Trump to reconsider his position on the topic and to do so quickly.

“Legalization will exponentially increase cartel activity and enrich Wall Street investors who are making a profit targeting our children and minorities,” Sabet said. “The data is clear that the industry is responsible for millions of youth becoming addicted to marijuana. Mr. Trump should change his mind and fast before he unwittingly becomes an advocate for dangerous products that are medically linked to depression, IQ loss, suicidality, psychosis, and schizophrenia.”

Multiple studies over the last two years have warned of the dangers associated with regular marijuana use. Once thought of as a benign drug, marijuana has been linked to multiple dangerous health conditions, including several mental health problems and physical ailments, such as an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.     

Moreover, Trump’s policy pivot on legalizing marijuana comes after a recent survey suggested that people in the country’s views on marijuana appear to be changing. A Gallup poll from August found that a slim majority of the country believes the drug “negatively impacts both society as a whole (54%) and most people who use it (51%).”