Elon Musk And The Potential Future Of Legal Cannabis
By Terry Hacienda, The Fresh Toast
He is global known and helped grow some revolutionary businesses…but will he help the cannabis industry?
Elon Musk joined as an early investor of the car company Tesla in 2004, later becoming CEO and product architect in 2008. Taking the technology, he pushed the company and grew the brand and the following. Using the expanded platform, he has become a global player and now has joined the current administration. But what about Elon Musk and the potential future of legal cannabis?
Elon Musk, known for his entrepreneurial thirst and controversial moments, has an intriguing relationship with cannabis which has occasionally intersected with policy discussions. While Musk famously smoked marijuana during a 2018 appearance on industry champion Joe Rogan on his podcast, he later clarified he did not inhale and maintained a cautious stance on drug use in professional environments. This incident even led NASA to investigate SpaceX’s workplace safety due to its federal contracts.
Despite these controversies, Musk has occasionally voiced support for cannabis-related reforms. In 2024, he tweeted about the need for criminal justice reform, particularly highlighting the paradox of cannabis being deemed “essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic while many individuals remained incarcerated for marijuana-related offenses. His comments aligned with broader calls for reform from advocates like The Last Prisoner Project.
However, Musk’s stance on cannabis policy remains complex. As head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration, his actions have not consistently supported reform. For instance, DOGE recently canceled federal funding for a study on cannabis use risks among marginalized groups and advocated for mandatory drug testing of federal employees. Additionally, Musk has not publicly championed federal legalization or decriminalization efforts, even as figures like Senator Elizabeth Warren urged him to halt federal enforcement actions in states with regulated markets as a cost-saving measure.
Musk’s influence could be pivotal in shaping cannabis policy. Organizations like Weed for Warriors have called on him to support initiatives addressing challenges in California’s cannabis industry, including tax hikes that threaten veteran access to medical marijuana. His ability to sway public opinion and policy—bolstered by his role in DOGE—positions him as a potential advocate for reform if he chooses to engage more actively.
Ultimately, while Musk has occasionally flirted with cannabis culture and reform rhetoric, his actions suggest a cautious approach rather than outright support for federal legalization or policy changes. Whether he will leverage his considerable influence to push for meaningful reform remains uncertain.
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