Minnesota’s cannabis legalization has been anything but smooth. Ohio legalized cannabis six months later than Minnesota and saw over half a billion dollars in cannabis sales. Meanwhile, Minnesota has yet to license a single store.

The Democrats, who controlled all three branches of Minnesota’s government, rushed legalization through with a focus on embedding “social equity” and anti-business ideology into the legislation, prioritizing politics over a functional, safe market. As a result, no licensed stores exist, and a black market is thriving.

Though the bill was flawed, I supported it because cannabis reform was long overdue. I fought to improve it, proposing amendments to address its shortcomings. Some were adopted, but they couldn’t overcome the ideologically driven provisions that have rendered the system unworkable. The outcome? A chaotic mess that’s frustrating businesses, consumers, and entrepreneurs alike.

That’s why I’m still working to refine the rollout, advocating for changes to make Minnesota’s cannabis market both functional and fair.

Despite the missteps, I remain a staunch supporter of legalization. It’s a matter of personal liberty. The government shouldn’t interfere in personal choices absent a clear public-safety risk — something cannabis simply doesn’t pose.

That’s why I proudly stood on the Minnesota House floor to champion ending cannabis prohibition. It’s also why I’m urging President Donald Trump to follow through on his pledge to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law. Trump has publicly backed rescheduling marijuana and even endorsed Florida’s Amendment 3 to legalize adult-use cannabis. What was once a radical left-wing stance is now mainstream. States like Montana, Missouri, and Ohio — hardly liberal bastions — have legalized cannabis. A significant majority of Americans, across party lines, support legalization.

Yet cannabis remains a Schedule I substance federally, alongside drugs like heroin, while fentanyl, which can kill on contact, is Schedule II. This is absurd and must change.

Classifying cannabis with heroin and methamphetamine isn’t just inaccurate, it erodes trust in our drug laws.

Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule II wouldn’t mean full federal legalization. It would recognize marijuana’s medical benefits, enable more research, and ease the financial and legal burdens crippling legal cannabis businesses, letting them operate like any legitimate industry. This is where Trump can lead.

Trump is a populist who challenges the status quo. Few issues highlight the disconnect between the establishment and the public more than cannabis policy. The administration of President Joe Biden made tentative steps toward rescheduling, but Trump could go further.

Embracing cannabis reform would be great politics for Republicans. Reform could win over younger voters and working-class Americans who view the war on marijuana as wasteful and unfair. It’s also a chance to prove that conservatives champion individual liberty and free markets over outdated government control.

I get that some conservatives still hesitate. But rescheduling isn’t about endorsing cannabis use. It’s about facing reality. It’s about ensuring laws reflect reason and don’t punish people or businesses for participating in an industry most Americans back.

President Trump has shown he’s willing to defy convention and pursue common-sense solutions. Rescheduling cannabis offers another chance to lead where others have faltered. By acting, he can cement his legacy as a leader who listens to the people, advancing both personal freedom and economic opportunity.

Rep. Nolan West, R-Blaine, represents District 32A in the Minnesota House. He wrote this exclusively for the News Tribune.