Trump Set to Nominate Tom Marino for U.S ‘Drug Czar’

September 06, 2017 U.S.

According to an announcement by the White House, Republican Tom Marino will be nominated by President Trump to head the National Drug Control Policy (NDCP). A supporter of Trump’s presidential campaign, Marino has been a favorite to take over the White ‘drug czar’ role since April. This was when President Trump first made public his intention to have the Republican from Pennsylvania appointed to the post. However, due to illness in his family, Marino withdrew himself from consideration in May.

If he takes up the role, Marino would drive the policies of the administration on marijuana control. Bruce Barcott, the deputy editor of Leafly, reported in April, Marino’s record indicates that he’s more bothered about the ongoing opioid pandemic of the country and less about regulated cannabis markets. While in congress, the Republican from Pennsylvania looked to help those struggling with opioid addiction by making efforts to expand access to treatment for individuals. Marino has worked to expand access to treatment for individuals struggling with opioid addiction. Additionally, he led a legal battle to deal with the issue of cross-border drug trafficking.

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Considering what’s been said above, it is likely that Marino would focus mostly on the opioid crisis of the United States if appointed as drug czar. In July, President Trump was urged by a White House panel to announce a national crisis around overdoses related to opioid, which, according to estimated numbers, left approximately sixty thousand people dead in 2016.

However, the stance of Marino on opioids could cause the cannabis industry to become concerned. The Pennsylvania Republican is calling for stouter criminal imposition on the ground and more forbearance for manufacturers of drugs, an approach similar to that of Jeff Sessions, the U.S Attorney General. For example, in May of last year, Marino made a suggestion regarding drug offenders which would see them locked up in prison cum rehabilitation centers with their release depending on the approval of the rehabilitation program.

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It is obvious to most people that Jeff Sessions isn’t too fascinated by the idea of legalizing cannabis growth. So, if like Sessions, Marino considers cannabis as a contributor to United States’ overdose epidemic, then he may not support the idea that medical cannabis can help fight the opioid crisis.

If the Senate, which met again on Tuesday, confirms it, Marino would take over from Richard Baum, the acting head of Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). If and when that happens, the congressional seat vacated by Marino would be occupied through a special election.

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