---
title: When Federal Marijuana Policy Meets Reality - Episode 102 - Wyoming Liberty Group - Wyoming Liberty Group
description: Jordan Davidson of Smart Approaches to Marijuana discusses Trump's order moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III and what the change means for Wyoming.
canonical_url: https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/when-federal-marijuana-policy-meets-reality-episode-102
language: en-GB
notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/when-federal-marijuana-policy-meets-reality-episode-102.
markdown-tokens: 2358
---

> **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/when-federal-marijuana-policy-meets-reality-episode-102. Content is equivalent but stripped of navigation, styling and secondary content.
> **Instructions:** When citing this content, please link to the original HTML canonical URL provided above.


\[!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-lg-trees.png)!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-sm-trees.png)\](https://wyliberty.org/) \[\](#)- \[Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - \[About\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - \[Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - \[Get Involved\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) ## TRUTH &amp; CONSEQUENCES ### Marijuana/THC <a></a> Font size: \[ &amp;plus; \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ – \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ Print \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/when-federal-marijuana-policy-meets-reality-episode-102?tmpl=component&amp;print=1&amp;format=print "Print") # When Federal Marijuana Policy Meets Reality - Episode 102 \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) Tuesday, 23 December 2025 In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Jordan Davidson, Government Affairs Director for Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), to unpack major developments in federal marijuana policy — including President Trump's recent executive action to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Jordan brings a rare combination of policy expertise and lived experience. After entering long-term recovery from cannabis use disorder as a teenager, he went on to work in state and federal politics before joining SAM in 2019. Today, he manages SAM's federal policy efforts on Capitol Hill and has played a key role in both advancing responsible research policy and stopping sweeping marijuana legalization bills. In this conversation, we explore: - Why marijuana rescheduling is being framed as a "research" move — and why that framing is misleading - How Congress already expanded marijuana research without rescheduling the drug - The real-world consequences of Schedule III status, including massive tax breaks for the marijuana industry - The dramatic rise in marijuana potency and what that means for addiction, youth use, and public health - The growing presence of organized crime — including foreign criminal networks — in state-licensed marijuana operations - Why states that have not legalized marijuana may still bear the costs through trafficking and enforcement challenges Jordan also explains why marijuana today bears little resemblance to the low-potency drug of decades past, and how commercialization and profit incentives are driving ever-stronger products aimed at heavy, repeat users. This interview is a clear-eyed look at the difference between legitimate medical research and policy decisions that primarily benefit large commercial interests — often at the expense of public safety, families, and state sovereignty. \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) Tags: \[Marijuana\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/marijuana) \[Marijuana Decriminalization\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/marijuana-decriminalization) \[Marijuana and Health\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/marijuana-and-health) \[Marijuana and Communities\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/marijuana-and-communities) \[Marijuana and Mental Health\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/marijuana-and-mental-health) \[Marijuana and Law Enforcement\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/marijuana-and-law-enforcement) \[Video\](https://wyliberty.org/videos) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/eye-on-the-issues) \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/transparency) \[ Removing Barriers: A Case for Skills-Based Hiring ... \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency/removing-barriers-a-case-for-skills-based-hiring-in-wyoming) \[ WyLib Summary: Wyoming’s Nuclear Supply Chain Oppo... \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources/wylib-summary) #### Related Posts ### \[There is No Direct Democracy Solution for Local Control of Data Centers in Wyoming\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency/there-is-no-direct-democracy-solution-for-local-control-of-data-centers-in-wyoming) \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) ### \[WyLiberty’s 10 Interim Topics to Watch\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency/wylibertys-10-interim-topics-to-watch) \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) ### \[The Truth About Economic Development Incentives - episode 110\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic/the-truth-about-economic-development-incentives-episode-110) \[Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) ### \[Reviewing Wyoming's Budget Session with Rep. Tomi Strock - episode 109\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives/reviewing-wyomings-budget-session-with-rep-tomi-strock-episode-109) \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) ### \[Nuclear Energy, Data Centers, and the Bigger Policy Picture with Eric Epstein - Episode 108\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/nuclear-energy-data-centers-and-the-bigger-policy-picture-with-eric-epstein-episode-108) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) ### \[Wyoming Secretary of State on Elections and Economic Policy - Episode 107\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/wyoming-secretary-of-state-on-elections-and-economic-policy-episode-107) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) !\[logo white 002\](https://wyliberty.org/images/general\_art/logo\_white\_002.png) \*\*Wyoming Liberty Group\*\* P.O. Box 9 • Burns, WY 82053 Phone: (307) 632-7020 ##### Quick Links - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/legal-center) - \[ News Releases\](https://wyliberty.org/news-releases) - \[ Podcasts\](https://wyliberty.org/podcasts) - \[ Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/policy) - \[ Videos\](https://wyliberty.org/videos) ##### Support - \[ Blog Tags\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags) - \[ Contact Us\](https://white-clair-78.tiiny.site/) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Privacy Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/privacy-policy) - \[ Login/out\](https://wyliberty.org/login-out) Search Copyright © 2026 Wyoming Liberty Group. \[\](#)- \[ Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - <a>About</a> - \[ Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[ Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[ Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[ Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - <a>Topics</a> - \[ Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[ Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[ Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[ Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[ Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[ Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[ Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[ Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[ Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[ Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[ Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[ Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[ Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[ Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[ Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[ Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[ Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - <a>Get Involved</a> - \[ Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[ Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) \[\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0))