Cannabis Use Rises Under Trump Presidency, But Industry Faces Tariff Struggles
While past elections saw the cannabis industry lean toward Kamala Harris for her reform advocacy, the Trump presidency appears to have sparked a different kind of boost—one in cannabis consumption.
According to a Harris Poll commissioned by Royal Queen Seeds, a cannabis seed company based in Barcelona, 50% of U.S. cannabis users reported they would consume more during the Trump administration. The increase is particularly notable among women aged 21–34, with nearly 59% in this group saying they expect to use more cannabis.
The trend is also driven by wealthier users. Among households earning $100,000 or more, 55% of cannabis consumers said they plan to increase their use. Analysts suggest that political stress and economic uncertainty—such as volatility in the stock market—could be fueling this uptick in consumption.
However, while consumer demand may be growing, the cannabis industry is grappling with a different kind of challenge under Trump: tariffs. The administration’s aggressive trade policies are putting pressure on global supply chains, hitting cannabis businesses that rely on imported goods.
Arnaud Dumas de Rauly, chair of the trade group VapeSafer and a cannabis industry consultant, told MJBizDaily that tariffs pose "a direct threat to profitability and scalability." He warned that the cannabis sector is especially vulnerable to global supply-chain disruptions, many of which have become more costly almost overnight.
So while more Americans may be turning to cannabis under Trump—whether to take the edge off or escape political anxiety—the industry itself is feeling the economic squeeze. The increased consumer demand is welcome, but tariffs and trade tensions are creating serious headwinds for producers and retailers alike.
In short, the Trump era may be driving people to get high more often—but for those on the business side, it’s not all good vibes.