Trump Signs Order to Expedite Marijuana Reclassification

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to expedite the reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act. This significant move aims to loosen federal restrictions primarily to facilitate medical research, acknowledging that the current classification alongside heroin and LSD has impeded scientific study.

"This reclassification order will make it far easier to conduct marijuana-related medical research, allowing us to study benefits, potential dangers and future treatments," Trump stated. By moving cannabis to Schedule III—a category including Tylenol with codeine and ketamine—the administration hopes to reduce the bureaucratic hurdles that currently stifle research, such as stringent security requirements and expensive licensing.

While the order does not federally legalize marijuana for recreational use or alter criminal justice policies, it signals a major shift in federal stance, recognizing cannabis as having accepted medical uses. Trump framed this as a "common sense" step in combating the opioid crisis, suggesting marijuana could serve as a substitute for addictive painkillers. The order also directs staff to work with Congress on revising legal definitions for CBD, aiming to restore access while maintaining safety standards. Experts like Chad Johnson from the University of Maryland believe this change will attract new talent to cannabis science and help validate medical claims with hard data.