Page 7 - ARUBA TODAY
P. 7
U.S. NEWS A7
Friday 12 January 2018
American Living:
Some fans of Trump and pot feel allegiances go up in smoke
Weed-loving Trump fans move. And some Republi-
cans in Congress have also
might be experiencing slammed the decision.
“We have a Constitution
buyer’s remorse, but it’s too to protect people from the
federal government,” Re-
early to say whether that publican Rep. Jason Lewis,
R-Minnesota, a Trump vot-
could make a difference er, said in an interview. “This
is a longstanding limited-
at the polls, Miron said. government principle.”
Trump fans who use medi-
“Libertarians certainly cal marijuana are also
concerned they could lose
knew when he appointed access to treatment. In ru-
ral Fryeburg, Maine, col-
Jeff Sessions that there was lege student Zac Mercauto
drives two hours roundtrip,
a serious risk in an escala- he said, to buy marijuana
to manage chronic pain
tion of the war on drugs,” and other health problems.
He said he would hate to
he said. “I think you get lose that ability to federal
politics.q
what you pay for.”
Still, some of Trump’s high-
profile supporters are criti-
cizing the move.
Roger Stone, a former
Trump campaign adviser
with whom the president
has a long and rocky his-
tory, shared a video on
This Jan. 10, 2018, photo shows Zac Mercauto holding a package of marijuana cookies in Facebook on Jan. 7 urging
Fryeburg, Maine. Mercauto is one of many proponents of legalized marijuana who supports
President Donald Trump, but thinks his administration is wrong about its anti-pot stance. Trump to support legaliza-
(Zac Mercauto via AP) tion and block Sessions’
By PATRICK WHITTLE eral prosecutors to decide
Associated Press what to do when state
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — rules conflict with federal.
The Trump administration’s It comes as legalization of
anti-marijuana move has marijuana is at an all-time
some members of the pres- high in popularity with Re-
ident’s voting base fuming. publicans.
Fans of President Donald A Gallup poll from last year
Trump who use marijuana found 51 percent of Re-
say Attorney General Jeff publicans expressed sup-
Sessions’ move to tighten port for legalization of the
federal oversight of the drug. It was the first time a
drug is the first time they’ve majority of GOP support-
felt let down by the man ers supported the idea and
they helped elect. The represented a jump of 9
move feels especially pu- percentage points from
nitive to Trump voters who the previous year. In the
work in the growing indus- early 2000s, only about one
try around legalized mari- in five Republicans agreed
juana that has taken root in with legalization.
states of all political stripes. Legalization has also flour-
It remains to be seen ished at the state level.
whether Trump’s pot-loving Maine, Nevada, Massa-
voters will take their anger chusetts and California
to the ballot box in 2018 all voted to make recre-
and 2020. But pro-legaliza- ational marijuana use legal
tion conservatives are also for adults in 2016. It is also
chiding the administra- legal in Oregon, Washing-
tion’s anti-pot move as an ton, Colorado, Alaska and
affront to personal liberties Washington, D.C. Alaska
and states’ rights. and Maine gave Trump
“Trump needs to realize electoral votes in 2016.
that a lot of his supporters Marijuana legalization is
are pro-cannabis and it typically most popular
would be extremely hurtful with the libertarian-leaning
to them if he allowed Ses- wing of the Republican
sions to move forward with Party. But any such Repub-
this,” said Damara Kelso, a licans who felt Trump would
Trump voter who runs Sugar be a pro-marijuana presi-
Shack Farms, a marijuana dent were misguided, said
grower in Eugene, Oregon. Jeffrey Miron, a Harvard
“It’s not lazy pothead ston- University economist who
ers smoking weed all day in studies the economics of
their parents’ basement.” libertarianism with a focus
Sessions’ move allows fed- on illegal drugs.
