 aDuring a speech at a National Rifle Association (NRA) leadership forum on Friday April 14th, former President Donald Trump said that mass shootings are “not a gun problem.”
Instead, Trump suggested that the use of marijuana could be to blame for mass shootings. Trump said, “We have to look at whether common psychiatric drugs, as well as genetically engineered cannabis and other narcotics, are causing psychotic breaks.” The former President did not clarify what he meant by "genetically engineered" cannabis, but it’s possible he’s referring to high-potency THC cannabis products. During Trumps last run as President, he showed his anti-cannabis stance by revoking the “Cole Memorandum.” That had been a direction from the prior administration which basically directed the federal government to back off prosecuting cannabis cases in state’s with some form of legalization. Since leaving the Oval office, and announcing his intention to run again for President in 2024, he has gotten even more aggressive on his anti cannabis position. Trump has mentioned several times, including this past year, that he believes all drug dealers and traffickers “should and must receive the death penalty.” In Pennsylvania in September 2022 Trump said, “I’m calling” to “immediately … institute the death penalty for drug dealers.” (Donald Trump transcript from 9-3-22 speech in Pennsylvania: 01:02:29). Earlier in the year, in July of 2022, Trump again said “you absolutely … execute a drug dealer ….” And in the same speech held up Singapore as an example to follow, saying if, “you look at Singapore, you look at other countries where they have the death penalty, they have no drug problem whatsoever.” Just one day before Trump said these words, Singapore executed a man convicted of trafficking cannabis. They executed him for cannabis by hanging him. And that is not an isolated incident for Singapore. That was the sixth man in less than four months who was executed for drug crimes. Singapore law considers anyone in possession of just 1.1 pounds of marijuana as being a trafficker, and they are given the death penalty. Former President Trump further praised Singapore’s executions by adding, “It doesn't take 15 years in court. It goes quickly. And you absolutely, you execute a drug dealer.” And he added, “You know what a quick trial is right? Two hours. That’s what.” Trump has also made these types of statements several other times over the last few years, (including in 2018, in 2020.) Comments are closed.
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