President Donald Trump signed an executive order expanding access to cannabis. This is a long-anticipated move that would mark the most significant change to U.S. drug policy in decades.
The order directs the U.S. Attorney General to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, putting it in the same category as Tylenol, which contains codeine.
Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. However, classifying it as a Schedule III drug would allow for expanded research into its potential benefits.
Several Republican lawmakers have warned against the move, with some arguing it could normalize cannabis use.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency notes that Schedule III drugs, which include ketamine and anabolic steroids, have only a “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”
Speaking from the Oval Office at Thursday’s signing ceremony, Trump said people are “begging” for change, especially those who are suffering “great suffering” from illnesses, including “terminal illnesses,” cancer, seizure disorders and veterans with service-connected injuries.
The president likened cannabis to prescription painkillers that have legal uses but “can cause irreversible harm.”
The new classification also has tax implications for state-approved cannabis dispensaries. This is because current regulations prohibit certain tax deductions if you sell Schedule I products.
In addition to changing the cannabis schedule, Trump ordered White House officials to work with Congress to ensure that some Americans have access to cannabis, commonly known as CBD.
Trump also asked White House officials to work with Congress to make cannabidiol accessible to some Americans.
Health officials have also been tasked with developing “methods and models” to investigate the actual health benefits and risks of CBD.
A senior administration official said the order was “a common-sense measure that will allow us to better understand and research” cannabis and CBD.
In recent years, most U.S. states have approved cannabis for some medical use, and nearly half (24) have legalized recreational use. However, starting in 1971, cannabis became a Schedule I drug. This means that it has no recognized medical use and is likely to be abused.
The Biden administration also proposed a similar reclassification, and in April 2024, the DEA proposed a rule change, but it ran into difficulties due to administrative and legal issues.
Trump’s order drew praise from organizations that have been working to change U.S. cannabis regulations.
Tim Barash, president of the Coalition of Cannabis Scheduling Reform, said in a statement that the move represents a “fundamental shift” in government and societal perceptions of cannabis.
“These changes will empower the 425,000 people working in the U.S. cannabis industry and bring new talent, capital and awareness to an industry that positively impacts the lives of millions of people,” Barash said.
But the reclassification order met some resistance from Republican lawmakers.
On Wednesday, a group of 22 Republican senators sent an open letter to the president arguing that marijuana use means “we can’t reindustrialize America.”
The senators pointed to ongoing concerns about the health effects of cannabis and research showing it may be linked to “impaired judgment” and “poor concentration.”
“In light of the documented risks of marijuana, promoting the growth of the marijuana industry is at odds with growing our economy and promoting healthy lifestyles for Americans.”
In a separate letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi last August, nine Republican representatives argued that “no adequate science or data exists” to support the change.
“Marijuana is different from heroin, but it still has the potential for abuse and has no scientifically proven medical value,” the letter said. “So not only is rescheduling marijuana objectively wrong, it also implies to our children that marijuana is safe, which couldn’t be further from the truth.”
More broadly, polls show that a majority of Americans support marijuana legalization efforts.
A Gallup poll released in November found that 64% of Americans believe the law should be legalized. However, the approval rating for Republicans fluctuated slightly compared to the previous year, with support for the Republican Party down 13 points.
