Donald Trump jokes about Congress on mushrooms, weighs in on marijuana legalization

Lex Fridman joked to Trump, “We’d probably have a better world if everyone in Congress took some mushrooms.”

Former President Donald Trump addressed the idea of psychedelics and marijuana legalization in a recent interview with podcaster Lex Fridman. 

During their conversation, Fridman humorously suggested, “We would probably have a better world if everybody in Congress took some mushrooms.” 

Trump chuckled but avoided directly commenting on psychedelics, instead focusing on marijuana policy.

“So we put out a statement the other day,” Trump said, referencing a recent Truth Social post in which he supported a marijuana ballot measure in Florida. 

“We’re gonna put another one probably next week to be more specific,” he added. 

“But it’s coming up, and we’ll see how it does. I will say it’s been very hard to beat it. You take a look at the numbers, it’s been very hard to beat it… But you want to do it in a safe way.”

Throughout the interview, Trump praised medical marijuana, sharing that friends and doctors had told him it has been “absolutely amazing.” 

“Medical marijuana has been amazing,” he said. “We can live with marijuana … it’s gotta be done in a really concerted way.”

However, Trump expressed concerns about the prevalence of marijuana in public spaces and potential safety risks. 

“It’s gotta be done in a good way. It’s gotta be done in a clean way. You go into some of these places like in New York, it smells all marijuana,” he lamented. 

Trump also voiced fears about “fentanyl-laced marijuana” and emphasized the need for proper regulation to avoid harming the public.

Trump commended Florida’s approach to marijuana legalization, possibly referencing the Amendment 3 ballot measure. 

“Very good,” he said, stressing that age restrictions and safety precautions are essential. 

While Trump has long advocated for a tough stance on drugs, including the death penalty for drug dealers, his recent comments on marijuana suggest a more nuanced approach.

On Truth Social, Trump wrote that arresting adults for possession of marijuana is not necessary, but he maintains concerns about public safety, particularly in Democrat-run cities where he believes marijuana is too pervasive.

Trump’s comments on drugs reflect a libertarian-leaning shift in some of his policies ahead of the 2024 presidential race. 

During the campaign, he’s also expressed opposition to banning TikTok and has criticized Florida’s six-week abortion law as “too short.” 

At the Libertarian 2024 convention, he even declared, “If I wasn’t a Libertarian before, I sure as hell am a Libertarian now.”

However, Trump remains firm on other policies traditionally opposed by libertarians, such as his support for heavy tariffs and stricter immigration laws.