CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten said Tuesday that President Donald Trump could gain a political advantage over Democrats if he moves forward with reclassifying marijuana under federal law.
Trump told reporters on Monday that he is considering reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. Schedule I substances are defined as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, while Schedule III drugs are described as having a “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”
CLEARING THE SMOKE: President Trump says he’s “very strongly” considering reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug after years of federal crackdown.
“A lot of people want to see it, the reclassification, because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can’t be done… pic.twitter.com/eUclKrhWcl
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 16, 2025
Enten discussed the potential political impact of such a move during an appearance on “CNN News Central,” saying the issue could benefit Trump, particularly among younger voters.
“Take a look at those under the age of 35 because they have been a real swing group, right? They swung wildly from the 2020 to 2024 election, going increasingly into the president’s column, and then we’ve seen them actually shift back away from the president,” Enten said.
“This could be an issue that could help, among other issues, help bring them back into the president’s camp … So for me, this could be a wedge issue that the president could use, in fact, against his Democratic opposition and say, ‘hey, you know what?’ Democrats have talked the talk, but I’m actually going to walk the walk when it comes to legalizing marijuana.”
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Enten said the potential reclassification could place Democrats at a disadvantage on an issue they have long discussed but not finalized at the federal level. He also referenced prediction markets while discussing the likelihood of the policy change.
According to Enten, prediction markets currently show an 88% chance that Trump will reclassify marijuana before the end of his term.
Enten also cited polling data showing long-term shifts in public opinion on marijuana legalization.
A Gallup poll found that support for legal marijuana among Americans rose from 36% in 2005 to 64% currently.
Among adults under the age of 35, support is higher.
According to the same Gallup poll, 72% of people in that age group support legalizing marijuana, and 49% reported having used it.
The discussion of potential reclassification comes alongside ongoing debates over marijuana’s health effects.
Studies have identified several risks associated with marijuana use.
Research has shown that marijuana use can be associated with negative health outcomes, including heart attacks and strokes.
A study published in May 2023 examined data from nearly 7 million men and women in Denmark over almost three decades.
That study found evidence that cannabis use among young men may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia.
Another research paper published in 2023 found that older Americans with cardiovascular risk factors faced a 20% increased risk of “a major heart or brain event while hospitalized” when marijuana use was involved.
Additional research has also linked marijuana use to heart attack risk among younger adults.
According to the American College of Cardiology, two studies found that cannabis users under the age of 50 were six times more likely to suffer a heart attack compared to non-users.
Supporters of marijuana legalization dispute those findings and argue that cannabis is less toxic or addictive than alcohol.
Advocates also say marijuana provides medical benefits for certain conditions, including anxiety and chronic pain.
Trump has not announced a final decision on reclassifying marijuana, but his comments to reporters indicate the issue remains under consideration.
Q: “Is it accurate that you are considering an executive order to reclassify marijuana?”
President Trump: “We are considering that, yeah… A lot of people want to see it… We are looking at that very strongly.”pic.twitter.com/qpb0pmfb5H
— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) December 16, 2025
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