Skip to content

Cohen Says Kushner Will Determine Trump’s Kush Policy

Tennessee Democrat thinks president’s son-in-law and daughter will moderate his marijuana views

Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen, right, says Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump will have their say on President Donald Trump’s marijuana policy. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen, right, says Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump will have their say on President Donald Trump’s marijuana policy. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Rep. Steve Cohen says it is likely that President Donald Trump’s son-in-law will determine the president’s policy on marijuana.

“It comes down to WWJD — What would Jared do?” the Tennessee Democrat told The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal.

While Kushner’s public position on marijuana is unclear, the newspaper reported, Cohen said he couldn’t imagine that Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump, both seen as moderating influences on the president, would encourage the commander in chief to come down hard on marijuana offenders. 

“How can you be 36 years old and grow up in New York City and be for having people jailed for marijuana,” the six-term congressman said. 

Like most of his positions, Trump has oscillated when it comes to marijuana.

The newspaper noted that, in 1990, he supported legalizing drugs, but on the campaign trail, he first said he opposed legalizing marijuana, then said he supported medical marijuana, before saying it should be left up to the states.

However, Jeff Sessions, Trump’s attorney general, announced last week that there would be “a review of existing policies in the areas of charging, sentencing, and marijuana” as part of the Justice Department’s efforts to reduce violent crime according to a letter from the department.

“It’s a schizoid type of situation, and I don’t know where he’ll come down on it,” said Cohen, who believes legalization should be left to states.

Recent Stories

Supreme Court denies Navarro bid to delay start of prison sentence

EPA finalizes ban on all remaining uses and importation of asbestos

Spending deal done, though final action could slip past deadline

Capitol Lens | On a roll

In the Spotlight: Maxwell Alejandro Frost

Supreme Court sounds reluctant to curb US social media outreach