President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will expand access to cannabis, a long-awaited move that would mark the most significant change in US drug policy in decades.
The order directs the U.S. attorney general to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I narcotic to a Schedule III drug, placing it in the same category as Tylenol with codeine.
Cannabis will remain illegal at the federal level. But classifying it as a Schedule III narcotic would allow expanded research into its possible benefits.
Several Republican lawmakers warned against the measure, with some arguing it could normalize cannabis use.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration notes that Schedule III narcotics, which also include ketamine and anabolic steroids, have only “moderate to low physical and psychological dependence potential.”
Speaking in the Oval Office during a signing ceremony Thursday, Trump said people have been “begging” for change, particularly those suffering “great pain” from ailments including “incurable pain,” cancer, seizure disorders and veterans with service-connected injuries.
The president compared cannabis to prescription painkillers that have legitimate uses “but can also cause irreversible harm.”
The new classification also has tax implications for state-licensed cannabis dispensaries, as current regulations prohibit them from some tax deductions if they sell Schedule I products.
In addition to the cannabis rescheduling, Trump has directed White House officials to work with Congress to allow some Americans access to cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD.
Trump also called on White House officials to work with Congress to allow some Americans access to cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD.
Health officials have also been tasked with developing “methods and models” to examine the real-world health benefits and risks of CBD.
A senior administration official said the order was a “common sense action that will allow us to better understand and study” cannabis and CBD.
In recent years, most US states have approved cannabis for some medical use, and nearly half (24) have legalized recreational use. But since 1971, cannabis has been a Schedule I narcotic, meaning it has no accepted medical use and has a high potential for abuse.
The Biden administration proposed a similar reclassification, and in April 2024 the DEA proposed a rule change, but stalled on administrative and legal issues.
Trump’s order received praise from organizations that have been working to change US regulations on cannabis.
Tim Barash, president of the Coalition for Cannabis Programming Reform, said in a statement that the measure represents a “fundamental shift” in government and societal perceptions of the drug.
“This change will empower the 425,000 people who work in the cannabis industry in the United States 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 has 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 would mean “we cannot reindustrialize America.”
Senators pointed to persistent concerns about the health impact of cannabis, as well as research suggesting cannabis may be linked to “impaired judgment” and “lack of concentration.”
“In light of the documented dangers of marijuana, facilitating the growth of the marijuana industry runs contrary to the growth of our economy and the promotion of healthy lifestyles for Americans.”
In a separate letter sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi in August, nine Republican representatives argued that “there is no adequate science or data” to support the change.
“Marijuana, although different from heroin, still has the potential to be abused and has no scientifically proven medical value,” the letter said. “Therefore, reclassifying marijuana would not only be factually incorrect, but it would also imply to our children that marijuana is safe. That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
More broadly, polls show that most Americans support efforts to legalize marijuana.
A Gallup poll released in November found that 64% of Americans believe it should be legalized, although support had declined slightly from previous years due to a 13-point drop among Republicans.
