The Trump administration seems to be decimating the budget for the Office of National Drug Control Policy, NPR and CBS News reported late Friday afternoon. This implies that if you’re searching for a merchant account for Marijuana or CBD, there may be no teeth around the administrative aspects towards drug enforcement.
The office had a 2017 budget of $388 million. The administration’s 2018 request clocks in at $24 million, and would entirely eliminate funding for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and Drug-Free Communities Support Program. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program currently receives $254 million in federal funding.
“The FY 2018 Budget supports an effort to streamline ONDCP’s organization and to shift focus from duplicative and burdensome administrative tasks,” reads the White House budget office’s justification for the cuts.
Earlier this week, Pennsylvania Rep. Tom Marino withdrew from consideration as the next director of the ONDCP, and many speculated that Marino did not pass the White House’s background check.
Updated reports implies puts Marino’s withdrawal from a new perspective. Perhaps he recieved an advance notice that his department would effectively be eliminated.
At the end of the day there are many mixed signals coming from the Trump administration relative to Marijuana Merchant Services. Jeff Sessions implies one thing, and Trump’s actions support a draconian, but less aggressive than his AG suggests.