Former Drug Policy Chief Opposes Leader’s Cannabis Rescheduling Move

A prominent figure from the nation’s anti-drug campaigns of the 1980s has reportedly broken ranks with the current administration over plans to ease federal restrictions on cannabis, according to sources familiar with the matter.

William Bennett, who served as the country’s first director of national drug control policy under a previous administration, allegedly expressed strong opposition to the leader’s recent executive directive to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the nation’s controlled substances framework.

“I love [the current leader],” Bennett reportedly told local media outlets. “I love almost everything he does, but I don’t love this.”

The executive order, signed in December 2025, directs the justice ministry to expedite moving cannabis to a classification that would treat it more like regulated medicine, though it would not make the substance legal nationwide. The head of state described the measure as having “a tremendously positive impact” on medical research capabilities.

Bennett, who previously served as education minister from 1985 to 1988 before becoming the nation’s first “drug czar,” advocated for what was commonly known as the “war on drugs” policy during his tenure. He promoted national drug control strategies that emphasized prevention and law enforcement against drug use.

Observers note that Bennett’s opposition reflects broader tensions within conservative circles over the administration’s evolving stance on cannabis policy. The former official reportedly cited concerns about the substance’s effects on students and its role as what he termed a “gateway drug” to addiction and crime.

“Cannabis clouds focus and attention, which you obviously should have if you’re going to school,” Bennett allegedly stated. “It is also the gateway drug. It leads to the use of other drugs.”

The former minister reportedly argued that cannabis use among young adults has gone largely unchecked, as the current culture increasingly accepts the substance’s use to the detriment of youth health. He pointed to what he described as a connection between cannabis prevalence and educational challenges, including dropout rates and absenteeism.

According to ministry data, the nationwide rate of students missing 10% or more of schooling stood at approximately 28% in the 2022-2023 academic year, down from a pandemic high of 31% the previous year.

A spokesperson for the executive residence defended the policy shift, describing it as part of the leader’s “pledge to expand medical research into applications of cannabis and cannabidiols.” The official reportedly emphasized the measure’s potential benefits for military veterans and noted the presence of law enforcement leaders at the signing ceremony.

“The leader’s historic action paved the way for the development of promising new treatments for the nation’s patients, especially veterans,” the spokesperson allegedly stated.

Bennett reportedly attributed changing attitudes toward cannabis to lobbying efforts and the growth of the cannabis industry, which he claims has helped push the substance into the “mainstream” and shifted public opinion from narrow support for medical use to broader cultural acceptance.

Elayne Bennett, the former minister’s wife who heads a nonprofit focused on student self-control, reportedly expressed similar concerns based on her work in schools. She allegedly pointed to research suggesting that habitual cannabis use before age 18 can reduce adult IQ by eight points, information she claims many students lack.

“That just hit me like a ton of bricks,” she reportedly said, calling for renewed anti-drug messaging campaigns reminiscent of the 1980s “just say no” initiative.

The former education minister noted that the current leader is reportedly a teetotaler regarding drugs and alcohol, suggesting he should apply that philosophy more broadly to policy.

“The nation’s always been a self-correcting society,” Bennett allegedly observed. “We do a lot of dumb things and bad things, but then we correct, and we can correct on this one.”

The disagreement highlights ongoing debates within the country over drug policy reform, as various states have moved to legalize cannabis while federal restrictions remain in place. Critics of the current approach argue that the war on drugs has failed to achieve its objectives, while supporters like Bennett maintain that loosening restrictions could worsen public health outcomes, particularly among youth.