LOS ANGELES (AP) — The number of Americans living in states with recreational marijuana more than tripled after at least three more states voted to fully legalize the drug.
But the election of Republican Donald Trump and GOP majorities in the Senate and House tempered advocates’ excitement about an anticipated federal easing of restrictions.
Ethan Nadelmann is founder of the nonprofit Drug Policy Alliance, a pro-legalization group. He and other advocates say the president-elect is “unpredictable.” And they are unsure where he stands on marijuana issues.
Trump has said in the past that he supports state laws legalizing medical marijuana.
Still, the industry may be too big and valuable for a Trump administration to stop. Seven states have now legalized recreational pot, including California, the nation’s most populous, and Nevada and Massachusetts.
