In the hazy world of cannabis policy, where promises swirl like smoke from a freshly lit joint, President Donald Trump's second term has ignited more skepticism than celebration among marijuana consumers. A recent poll conducted in partnership with Marijuana Moment and the cannabis telehealth platform NuggMD reveals a stark reality: a majority of users disapprove of the administration's cannabis actions so far. But it's the president's latest social media flourish—a post touting CBD as a senior health panacea—that's really stoking the flames of doubt. For many in the green community, this feels less like a bold step toward reform and more like a sidestep into the safer, hemp-derived lane. As the industry eyes federal rescheduling with bated breath, let's unpack the data, the drama, and the disconnect driving this disillusionment. With cannabis sales topping $30 billion annually across states, the stakes couldn't be higher—or the vibes lower.

The Poll That Lit the Fuse: Numbers Don't Lie, But They Do Disappoint

Picture this: you've got a community of over 50 million regular marijuana users in the U.S., many of whom tuned into the 2024 election hoping for a federal thaw on their favorite plant. Instead, the NuggMD-Marijuana Moment tracking poll, released in June 2025, drops a reality bomb: 54 percent of respondents disapprove of Trump's cannabis handling to date. That's not just a casual eye-roll; it's a collective exhale of frustration from folks who've watched state-legal markets boom while federal red tape strangles innovation.

The survey, the first in a quarterly series, zeroed in on 1,200 cannabis consumers aged 21 and up, capturing a snapshot of sentiment three months into Trump's return to the White House. Only 22 percent approved, with the rest sitting squarely on the fence—neutral at 24 percent. What stings most? The poll highlights a perceived inaction on campaign trail teases. Trump had nodded toward rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to III during rallies in Michigan and Pennsylvania, states where dispensaries outnumber Starbucks. Yet, as of October 2025, the DEA's hearing on the matter—delayed from January under Biden—remains in limbo, with the Department of Justice requesting further postponements in lawsuits challenging the process.

Dig deeper into the demographics, and the generational rift emerges. Among millennials and Gen Z users, who make up 60 percent of the market according to Statista data, disapproval climbs to 62 percent. These are the digital natives who grew up with edibles as commonplace as energy drinks, only to face IRS code Section 280E, which bars tax deductions for "trafficking" businesses— a relic that's cost the industry billions. The poll's margin of error sits at ±2.8 percent, making these figures as solid as a well-cured bud. But here's the twist: while the thumbs-down dominates, it's not a total blackout. Nearly 40 percent—precisely 39.3 percent—say they'd warm to the administration "a bit more" or "a lot more" if rescheduling happens. Legalization? That jumps to 45 percent. It's a carrot dangling just out of reach, teasing potential redemption in a sea of skepticism.

Trump's Track Record: From Farm Bill Wins to Federal Fumbles

To understand the poll's pulse, rewind to Trump's first rodeo. The 2018 Farm Bill, signed amid a hemp harvest frenzy, legalized CBD and hemp derivatives with under 0.3 percent THC—a move that exploded a $5 billion wellness market by 2025, per Brightfield Group estimates. It was a bipartisan high-five, with Trump touting it as an agricultural boon for red states like Kentucky, where hemp farms now rival tobacco fields. Fast-forward to term two, and the goodwill has evaporated like THC in a hot box.

Early 2025 saw executive orders prioritizing border security and economic tariffs, but cannabis? Crickets, punctuated by whispers of stricter enforcement. A Harris Poll from April, commissioned by Royal Queen Seeds, found 50 percent of users planning to up their intake to cope with administration-induced stress—59 percent among young women. That's not reform; that's rebellion via reefer. By summer, the Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation (CPEAR) poll echoed the malaise: seven in 10 voters nationwide crave full federal legalization, and 48 percent would view Trump more favorably for it. Republicans? They're on board too—55 percent support rescheduling, per the same survey.

Contrast this with prohibitionist pushback. Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) touted a poll claiming 52 percent oppose rescheduling, but it's an outlier amid broader data. Gallup's 2024 benchmark showed 68 percent favoring legalization, up from 36 percent in 2005. Trump's silence on pardons for federal weed convictions—echoing Biden's 2022 gesture for simple possession—feels like a missed joint venture. Industry insiders whisper of internal White House debates, with advisors like Newt Gingrich floating psychedelics like ibogaine for addiction treatment, but marijuana remains the elephant in the room. No wonder consumers are coughing up disapproval; it's like ordering a pizza and getting half a crust.

The CBD Post: Hype, Hemp, and a Whole Lot of Hot Air?

Enter stage right: September 28, 2025. Trump hits Truth Social with a nearly three-minute video from the pro-rescheduling Commonwealth Project. The script? Hemp-derived CBD as the "game changer" for seniors—easing pain, boosting sleep, slashing stress, and restoring the endocannabinoid system. It calls for Medicare coverage, dubbing it "the most important senior health initiative of the century." A PwC report clip flashes: $64 billion in annual savings if cannabis integrates into healthcare. Stocks surged—MSOS ETF up 12 percent, Curaleaf shares popping 8 percent—per Reuters. The hemp lobby cheered; after all, Trump's Farm Bill birthed this beast.

But for marijuana die-hards, it's a buzzkill. The poll's follow-up wave in late September found 67 percent of consumers unconvinced this signals broader reform. Why? CBD is the teetotaler of cannabis—non-intoxicating, federally kosher since 2018, and already a $7.7 billion market (Grand View Research). It's the kale smoothie in a world craving craft IPAs. Critics argue it's a distraction from the real fight: descheduling THC-rich flower, the lifeblood of 70 percent of users per NuggMD data. "It's like praising decaf while the coffee ban lingers," quips Andrew Graham, NuggMD's communications head. The video nods to medical benefits but sidesteps criminal justice inequities, like the 40,000 annual federal arrests for possession (ACLU stats).

Skeptics point to timing: the post drops as rescheduling deliberations heat up, yet the administration's DOJ is stalling related gun possession cases for cannabis users, citing Supreme Court review. A bipartisan congressional letter from 27 lawmakers blasts hemp recriminalization efforts in spending bills, fearing a "fatal blow" to farmers. Trump's post feels performative—a nod to boomers (65+ users up 30 percent, AARP reports) without rocking the Schedule I boat. Unconvinced? The poll says most are: only 18 percent see it as a reform harbinger, with 45 percent calling it "insufficient" and 24 percent "irrelevant" to full legalization.

Echoes from the Community: Voices in the Vapor

Zoom out, and the discontent ripples through forums and frontlines. On Reddit's r/trees, threads explode: "Trump's CBD love letter? Cute, but where's my pardon?" A Detroit dispensary owner tells Marijuana Moment, "Sales are up 15 percent from stress toking, but trust in D.C.? Down 50." Women, who skew 52 percent of CBD users but just 38 percent of flower buyers (Headset.io), feel doubly dismissed—the post's senior focus ignores younger demographics grappling with anxiety epidemics.

Yet, glimmers persist. That 39.3 percent readiness to pivot? It's a reminder that cannabis culture thrives on hope, like a strain bred for resilience. If Trump green-lights rescheduling—potentially unlocking banking and research by Q1 2026—support could bud anew. Until then, consumers puff on, unimpressed and unswayed.

Blowing Smoke or Breaking Ground? The Road Ahead for Reform

As October 2025 unfolds, the cannabis crossroads loom large. With 24 states fully legal for recreation and 38 for medical (NORML), federal foot-dragging costs $4.5 billion in taxes yearly (Marijuana Policy Project). Trump's CBD post, while sparking market fireworks, underscores a deeper divide: hemp as the acceptable face of the family, marijuana as the rebellious sibling still grounded. The NuggMD poll's quarterly cadence will track if actions follow words—perhaps a rescheduling nod by year's end, or full descheduling in a surprise budget play.

For now, marijuana consumers aren't just unconvinced; they're exhaling a collective "show me." In a nation where 88 percent view cannabis as less harmful than alcohol (Pew, 2024), the pressure builds. Trump's legacy could pivot from farm fields to freedom fields—or fade into forgotten vapor. One thing's clear: the green wave won't wait. It's high time for real reform, before the skepticism fully seeds.

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Reference:

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Chiu, V., Chan, G., Hall, W., Hides, L., Lim, C., & Leung, J. (2021). Personal correlates of support for medical and recreational cannabis legalization in australia. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.551661