Trump Administration Attributes D.C. Disorder to Cannabis Decriminalization

LOS ANGELES- President Donald Trump has signed an executive order titled “Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful,” establishing the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. This initiative aims to address public safety and urban revitalization in Washington, D.C., and attributes recent disorder in part to the city’s cannabis decriminalization policies.

The accompanying fact sheet asserts that D.C.’s “failed policies opened the door to disorder—and criminals noticed,” specifically citing the decriminalization of cannabis as a contributing factor.

The task force comprises members from various federal agencies, including the Department of the Interior, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Its objectives include increasing law enforcement presence in public areas, strictly enforcing quality-of-life laws related to drug use, unpermitted demonstrations, vandalism, and public intoxication, and enhancing cooperation with local authorities. ​