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The ever-changing make-up of US president-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for posts in his administration – still far from set in stone – offers a few new options that will impact on cannabis and hemp.
The withdrawal of Matt Gaetz from the nomination process for attorney general may be something of a blow for the industry. Gaetz was said by the US Cannabis Council to be “one of the most pro-cannabis Republicans on Capitol Hill”. The Council was hopeful that his nomination was a sign Trump was going to make good on cannabis reform.
New nominee Pam Bondi appears to be something of a step down. Before making her way to the Trump legal team, she served as attorney general in Florida, where she was generally opposed to legalisation measures.
These actions were about a decade ago, though, and her position appears to have evolved in the meantime. She has been working for Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm. One of its clients is the cannabis company Trulieve, whose CEO, Kim Rivers, came out in support of Bondi’s nomination on social media – saying she was a “great pick” whom Rivers has always known to be straightforward and fair.
Overall, Bondi seems to be a cannabis ally
It has also been noted that Bondi is a strong opponent of opioid sales, which theoretically should put her further in the cannabis camp when taking into consideration the use of cannabis as a medical alternative to opioid prescription. Rivers said she believed Bondi’s opposition to opioids and fentanyl would lead her to be an advocate for safe, regulated markets.
However, a committee Bondi served on regarding opioid addiction suggested a negative link between opioid and cannabis use. The committee cited a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study that “found that marijuana use led to a 2.5 times greater chance that the marijuana user would become an opioid user and abuser” and said that it found this connection “very disturbing”.
In all, though, Bondi does not seem like someone who would attempt to cut her own path as attorney general. She is most likely to follow the policy framework set out by the Trump administration and toe the line on judicial calls. This means that if Trump follows through on campaign promises made regarding cannabis, Bondi should end up being a supporter.
What about Makary as FDA commissioner?
For hemp-derived cannabinoids, the new head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the secretary of agriculture will be important in deciding the future course of CBD as well as other cannabinoids.
Martin Makary, nominee to head the FDA, has previously voiced support for the therapeutic uses of cannabis. However, he has also called cannabis unsafe and a gateway drug, emphasising the damage it does to under-age consumers, and has said it negatively affects intelligence.
This on its own leaves it unclear where Makary would stand on the potential for cannabinoids on the market. He may take a strong stand on THC in products but be more supportive of CBD or other THC-free, minor non-prescription medicinal cannabinoid preparations. But he may also prefer to support cannabinoids solely as a prescription medication – such as is the current case with products like Epidiolex.
Perhaps more importantly for CBD, he has vowed to follow through on Trump’s promises and sweep away the bureaucratic and regulatory log jams that have prevented the FDA from fulfilling its role as regulator of drugs and foods in a timely manner.
Makary appears to be more concerned about drug and supplement approval. But comments he has made about how to potentially speed up approval processes – such as allowing products that have been proven to be safe onto the market before tackling their efficacy – would seemingly be to the benefit of CBD. The current FDA, though, appears to have issues with the safety of CBD that would need to be resolved. These are largely based on clinical studies for Epidiolex that showed potential liver harm but were carried out using much higher doses of CBD than would be found in over-the-counter products.
He, some would hope, may be able to finally force through approval of CBD in ingestible products – an issue that has become something of a regulatory hot potato tossed between legislators and regulators with neither wanting to assume ultimate responsibility for a decision to approve products already widespread on the market.
Secretary of agriculture could have more influence in hemp
Looking more widely at the hemp-derived cannabinoid sector, the nominee for secretary of agriculture could have ramifications, as that person would be overseeing the implementation of the revised Farm Bill that will be passed during the Trump administration. As previously stated, hemp makes up just a tiny part of the overall bill that encompasses multiple policy areas related to agriculture.
If approved, Brooke Rollins will move to the role from her current position leading the Trump-focused think tank America First Policy Institute. Rollins had held a number of similar policy roles in Texas. She studied agricultural development at Texas A&M University and had been singled out for her advocacy for prison and sentencing reform – though it is unclear how that might impact on her current role.
It is hard to find any evidence of where Rollins would stand on important issues such as intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids – a strong money-making incentive for domestic US farmers to continue growing hemp.
In all, it is still more unclear what impact a Trump presidency will have on hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids than even cannabis. While, as a national subject of debate, the president-elect has at least had to provide some comments on potential future direction with cannabis, the plan for hemp and hemp cannabinoids is more of a mystery.
– Freddie Dawson CannIntelligence staff
Photo: GreenForce Staffing
