The topic of marijuana prohibition has been a subject of discussion in the United States for more than a century. As the president of the United States is typically viewed as a figure who can influence policies in the country without legislative authority, I conducted a historical analysis of presidential statements and speeches regarding marijuana and drug policy implementation. I also investigated the impact of the president's words on the diffusion of marijuana policy across states. To do this, I reviewed speeches by presidents and searched for legislative issues related to marijuana from 1970 to 2023. By placing these events on a timeline, I observed a correlation between the president’s statements on marijuana policy and subsequent state actions.