Ilhan Omar Says 'A Lot' of Congress Smokes Weed, Flashes Peace Sign

Omar's TMZ Moment: Viral Clip, Real Subtext

Rep. Omar's May 20 sidewalk interview with TMZ lasted under 30 seconds, but the soundbite ricocheted across social platforms within hours. Asked whether members of Congress smoke weed, Omar replied, "A lot of people," smiled, threw up a peace sign, and walked away. The clip has racked up over 2 million views on X and Instagram combined.

Omar has co-chaired the Congressional Cannabis Caucus since 2023, alongside Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). The caucus now counts 41 members—up from 28 in 2022—and has pushed the SAFER Banking Act, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, and research-expansion riders in every appropriations cycle since 2024.

The "a lot of people" line wasn't hyperbole. A 2025 anonymous survey by Roll Call found that 18% of congressional staffers reported using cannabis in the past year, and 9% said their boss had used it at least once while in office. The survey didn't name names. But the numbers suggest Omar's claim has statistical backing.

Federal Reform Bills Stalled, But Momentum Builds

No comprehensive federal legalization bill has passed both chambers. Still, incremental wins have piled up since 2024. The SAFER Banking Act cleared the Senate 58-41 in March 2025 but died in the House after leadership refused to bring it to a floor vote. The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) remains in committee, where it's sat since reintroduction in January 2026.

State-level momentum and public polling above 70% for legalization have made cannabis a safer topic for lawmakers to discuss openly—even if they won't vote yes.

Key incremental wins include:

• 2024 Farm Bill rider: Protected state-legal hemp programs from DEA interference through FY 2026.
• FY 2025 appropriations: Barred DOJ from prosecuting state-legal cannabis businesses in 38 states plus DC.
• 2026 VA research expansion: Allowed the VA to conduct clinical trials on cannabis for PTSD and chronic pain, reversing a 30-year ban.

Omar praised the VA move in a February floor speech. She called it "long overdue" and noted that veterans had been "Guinea pigs for opioids" while cannabis remained off-limits.

Trump's Surprise Role in the Conversation

Omar also gave unexpected credit to former President Donald Trump during the TMZ exchange, saying he "actually helped" the legalization conversation. She was likely referring to Trump's April 2025 statement that he'd "leave it to the states" and his endorsement of Florida's Amendment 3 recreational ballot measure, which passed in November 2024 with 58% support.

Trump's pivot surprised cannabis advocates. During his first term (2017-2021), his DOJ under Jeff Sessions rescinded the Obama-era Cole Memo, which had directed federal prosecutors to deprioritize cannabis cases in legal states. By 2025, though, Trump had repositioned himself as a federalist on the issue, aligning with GOP libertarians like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), both Cannabis Caucus members.

That shift has practical implications. If Trump runs again in 2028 on a states-rights cannabis platform, it could pull Republican resistance in the House, where 112 GOP members voted against SAFER Banking in 2025. For context, the CannIntel topic hub on the Congressional Cannabis Caucus tracks every member vote and co-sponsorship on federal cannabis bills.

What Comes Next

Omar's peace-sign exit was a mic-drop moment. But the underlying question remains: when will Congress act? The CAOA isn't likely to move before the 2026 midterms. SAFER Banking could resurface in a lame-duck session if Senate leadership attaches it to a must-pass defense or appropriations bill.

The real variable is whether more members follow Omar's lead and speak plainly. Advocacy groups like NORML and the Cannabis Trade Federation have long argued that destigmatization in Congress precedes legislative action. If "a lot of people" are using cannabis, the policy gap becomes harder to defend.

We'll be watching three indicators: CAOA markup activity in June, any SAFER Banking revival in Q3, and whether Trump formalizes a cannabis plank in his 2028 platform.