Turns out, they’re trying to amass a collection of cherry-picked data and scare stories that will reverse surging voter support for ending the federal war on marijuana, which has failed after more than 80 years and tens of millions of arrests.
Today, Buzzfeed news reported the existence of an anti-marijuana committee in the Trump White House soliciting 15 federal agencies for data on the negative effects of cannabis law reforms, including legalization. The group specifically asked for scare stories or pictures to illustrate legalization critics’ concerns — typically drugged driving, teenage marijuana use, and trumped up mental health claims.
According to Buzzfeed, a “Marijuana Policy Coordination Committee” told the agencies via email in August to submit “data demonstrating the most significant negative trends” about marijuana and the “threats” it poses to the country.
Bufzzfeed reporter Dominic Holden writes: “the committee’s records show it is asking officials only to portray marijuana in a negative light, regardless of what the data show. … None of the documents indicate that officials are seeking data that show marijuana consumption or legalization laws, which have been approved in eight states, serve any public benefit or do a better job of reducing drug abuse.”