This study examines
how the Nixon and Trump administrations contributed to the racialization of
cannabis policy in the United States. The purpose of this study is to analyze
how political rhetoric, relationships, and legislation have been used to construct cannabis as a
racialized tool of social control. Using a qualitative methodology, this study
analyzes presidential speeches, public statements, political affiliations and
drug-related policies from both administrations. The findings indicate that
Nixon and Trump each employed distinct but inherently related strategies to
reinforce racial hierarchies through cannabis policy. Nixon explicitly
racialized cannabis to target communities of color, later shifting towards
selective cannabis enforcement. Trump relied on cannabis exceptionalism to
distinguish between medical and recreational use, while maintaining racialized enforcement practices. Overall, the study
demonstrates that cannabis policy has been continuously adapted to serve
political agendas while perpetuating systemic racial disparities.
