Building on Kevin Sabet’s recent quote in the New York Times about how “it’s looking like we have a coin-operated drug policy that basically responds to whoever will give money,” Smart Approaches to Marijuana created an interactive dashboard tying shifts in federal drug policy with donations to Trump-affiliated entities.
The dashboard highlighted six prominent examples of donations from marijuana, tobacco, and gambling interests, which totaled $33.7 million:
- Reynolds American, the tobacco company behind major brands like Camel and Newport, contributed $8 million to MAGA Inc, a super PAC affiliated with President Donald Trump. According to the New York Times, “the donation came on April 30. Two days later, a top executive at Reynolds and two lobbyists who represent the company had lunch with Mr. Trump at his golf club in Jupiter, Fla.” The Food and Drug Administration subsequently approved fruit-flavored vapes, which the company had long lobbied for against the objections of public health experts
- Trulieve, one of the nation’s leading marijuana companies, contributed $4.47 million to MAGA Inc., America First Agriculture, the Trump–Vance Inaugural committee, and Conservative Fighter PA. President Trump subsequently signed an executive order to move marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, which would allow the marijuana industry to make billions in profits. Additionally, Kim Rivers, the CEO of Trulieve, was invited to attend the executive order’s signing ceremony at the White House.
- The U.S. Cannabis Council, which lobbies on behalf of the entire marijuana industry, donated $250,000 to the Trump-Vance Inaugural committee. Similar to Trulieve, the council’s members benefited from the rescheduling of marijuana.
- The Department of Justice dropped its case against Botanic Tonics, a company known for selling “Feel Free” and kratom. Ten weeks later, the company contributed $1 million to the MAHA PAC.
- Bijan Tehrani, the CEO of the online gambling company Stake, contributed $1 million to MAGA Inc. President Trump subsequently made a post on Truth Social that promoted Stake.
- Antonio Gracias, an investor in psychedelics, contributed $19 million to aligned causes, including $1 million to MAGA Inc and $1 million to the America PAC. President Trump subsequently signed an executive order in April 2026 that encouraged the Food and Drug Administration to fast-track the approval of psychedelics, including ibogaine. Gracias was also given a leading role in the Department of Government Efficiency.