Great Lakes Wire

Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, has voiced concerns about marijuana's impact on productivity and quality of life, particularly among young men. He has called for policies to mitigate these negative effects. This statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Weed is a scourge, rewarding some of the worst elements of society while sapping the will and productivity of far too many citizens, especially young men," said Cortes. "MAGA must focus on quality of life issues -- we can do so much better than cities that reek of disgusting smoke."

Federal efforts to reschedule marijuana have gained renewed attention in 2025. The Biden-era plan to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III is currently under review by President Trump. According to The Wall Street Journal, this rescheduling could ease research restrictions and tax burdens, prompting increased lobbying efforts from the cannabis industry. These efforts include high-profile events attended by Trump allies and represent a rare area of bipartisan support within the industry.

Steve Cortes, Founder for League of American Workers | Facebook

Cannabis use among young men remains significant but has seen a slight decline in recent years. Marijuana Moment reports that federal data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that in 2023, 35% of individuals aged 18–25 reported using marijuana in the past year, with 10.4% reporting use in the past month. These figures indicate stable or slightly decreasing usage despite broader legalization.

The U.S. cannabis industry is projected to generate a total economic impact of $123.6 billion in 2025, including $35.3 billion in direct retail sales and $88.3 billion in ancillary contributions. The MJBiz Factbook notes this represents a 9% year-over-year increase, highlighting the sector’s growing role in the broader economy despite ongoing federal legal uncertainty.

Cortes is also known as a senior political advisor to CatholicVote and has served as a former senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance. Additionally, he is a commentator for Fox News and CNN and regularly releases documentaries and columns at cortesinvestigates.com.

The League of American Workers, founded by Cortes in 2022, is a conservative policy group advocating for working-class Americans. According to its official website, the group focuses on combating wage stagnation, rebalancing economic power toward labor, and promoting an America First industrial policy through data-driven messaging aimed at shifting elite-driven narratives.