Trump signs executive order to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous drug

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order directing federal agencies to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, a move that would fundamentally alter how the drug is regulated and potentially broaden medical research. The measure stops short of legalizing cannabis for recreational use nationwide, but it represents a significant shift in federal drug policy as more states have legalized marijuana in some form. The administration framed the action as a step toward expanding patient access and reducing regulatory barriers that hamper research and industry growth.

Under the plan, the Drug Enforcement Administration would move marijuana out of Schedule I, the most restrictive category that also includes heroin and LSD, and place cannabis in Schedule III, a category that includes ketamine and some anabolic steroids. Officials argued the change could ease tax burdens on licensed growers and sellers and make it easier for researchers to obtain cannabis for clinical studies. President Trump said he had received a flood of calls from people urging action, arguing that the move could help patients in pain.

Still, the administration emphasized that the policy shift does not grant a nationwide right to use marijuana. The reclassification would still require a formal rulemaking process, including a public comment period that federal agencies typically publish and review before implementing a change. The DEA, decades into its scheduling framework, has historically taken months or years to complete similar actions. Trump’s order is expected to accelerate the process, but officials cautioned that it would not provide an immediate timetable for when the change would take effect.

Reaction within Congress has been mixed. Many Republicans have urged the administration to maintain current scheduling, arguing that marijuana remains dangerous and could undermine road and workplace safety. A letter signed by more than 20 Republican senators, led by Ted Budd of North Carolina, warned that rescheduling would boost foreign drug markets and be a boon to criminals while failing to deliver clear public-health benefits. The letter urged the White House to resist moving marijuana while the party maintains broader support for criminal-justice and drug-control priorities. The letter also contended that rescheduling would undermine efforts to make America safer and could complicate international efforts to curb drug trafficking.

Public opinion has shifted notably in recent years. Gallup polling shows support for legalizing marijuana increasing from 36 percent in 2005 to about two-thirds in recent years, a trend that has influenced policymakers at the state and federal level. The current White House push comes as more states maintain or expand regulated markets for recreational or medical cannabis, while the federal government maintains a more restrictive posture. While the administration frames the move as a way to align federal policy with state practice, critics warn that a scheduling change alone does not resolve ongoing regulatory and enforcement challenges.

Beyond the scheduling change, the administration highlighted steps to expand research and access to hemp-derived CBD, a product derived from cannabis that is legal in many forms. The White House discussed a Medicare program that would let older adults access hemp-derived CBD at no cost, if a doctor recommends it, an arrangement described by CMS leadership. The claim comes as part of a broader agenda to broaden treatment options for patients who live with chronic conditions or pain, though some medical experts continue to debate CBD’s efficacy and safety.

Politically, the policy move arrives amid a broader debate about federal versus state authority on drug policy. While more states have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use, federal law still bars possession and commerce in many contexts, creating a patchwork that complicates banking access, interstate sales, and medical research. Supporters argue that reclassification would bring regulation in line with what many states have already done and could remove a major source of tax revenue from the underground economy. Opponents, however, worry about safety, youth access, and the potential for increased road fatalities and other harms, a concern echoed by lawmakers who question the timing and scope of the move.

Experts caution that even with the executive order, long-standing practical and legal hurdles remain. The final outcome depends on how the DEA, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other agencies implement the scheduling change and how Congress responds in the months ahead. If the action moves forward, it could alter enforcement priorities, expand research openings, and influence the cannabis industry’s tax structure and banking access. The administration’s action also tests political crosscurrents within the party as some lawmakers who oppose any shift navigate the pressure from voters increasingly supportive of reform.