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Trump Announces Executive Order to Reschedule Marijuana as a Schedule III Drug
On December 18, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a highly anticipated executive order aimed at fundamentally changing the federal government’s approach to cannabis. The directive instructs federal agencies to expedite the process of reclassifying marijuana from its longstanding status as a Schedule I controlled substance to a Schedule III drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
A Significant Policy Shift
Under federal law, Schedule I is the most restrictive drug category, reserved for substances the government says have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” a list that historically included cannabis alongside heroin and LSD. By contrast, Schedule III substances are considered to have accepted medical uses and a lower potential for abuse, placing marijuana in the same classification as drugs like ketamine, testosterone and codeine-containing painkillers.
Trump marked the moment with a signing ceremony at the White House, highlighting the potential medical benefits of marijuana. “We have people begging for me to do this — people that are in great pain,” he said, framing the move as a common-sense step to expand research and address patient needs.
However, the executive order itself does not immediately legalise marijuana at the federal level nor permit recreational use across the United States — that would still require further action by Congress or subsequent regulatory changes.
What the Order Actually Does
Rather than instantly rescheduling marijuana, Trump’s executive order:
• Directs the Attorney General and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to complete the administrative rulemaking process to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III “in the most expeditious manner” under federal law.
• Signals federal backing for medical research and development on cannabis and related compounds, including an increased focus on CBD (cannabidiol) products and their medical applications.
• Encourages agencies and Congress to refine the regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products.
Because the CSA’s scheduling changes require scientific evaluation, public notice periods and a formal administrative rulemaking process managed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the switch to Schedule III is not immediate — marijuana remains Schedule I for the moment.
Impact on Research, Industry, and Taxation
The move is widely seen as a historic shift in federal drug policy, the most significant on cannabis since the CSA’s creation in 1970.
Analysts and advocates say that rescheduling could:
• Loosen barriers to scientific and clinical research by reducing bureaucratic hurdles faced by researchers.
• Alleviate some tax burdens on state-legal cannabis businesses, which have historically been hit by the restrictive federal tax code (notably Section 280E) because they operate under Schedule I.
• Encourage new pharmaceutical interest in cannabis-based treatments by more clearly recognising legitimate medical uses.
Critics — including some civil liberties and criminal justice groups — argue that rescheduling, while a step forward, does not solve legal inequities or eliminate federal penalties tied to cannabis offences. They say that broader reform, such as descheduling or comprehensive legislative changes, remains necessary for meaningful justice reform.
Political and Social Context
The rescheduling effort builds on earlier work by the Biden administration, which had begun the process of reviewing cannabis’s classification in 2022. That effort stalled amid administrative challenges, leaving Trump’s executive order to revitalise the policy push.
Public opinion continues to evolve: a strong majority of Americans now support federal cannabis legalisation, although views are more divided among political lines. Advocates and industry groups have welcomed the Trump administration’s action as long-overdue recognition of cannabis’s medical value.
Bottom Line
President Trump’s executive order initiating the rescheduling of marijuana to Schedule III marks a major policy change with far-reaching effects on federal drug regulation, medical research, and the burgeoning cannabis industry. While not legalising cannabis outright, the order signals a shift toward a less punitive, more research-focused federal stance — one that could reshape U.S. cannabis policy in the years to come.
Attached is a News article regarding trump signing an executive order on cannabis
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/18/trump-cannabis-executive-order
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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