Trump Administration Reclassifies Medical Marijuana as Schedule III Drug

The Trump administration has reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, marking the first major federal change to marijuana laws in decades. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the order on Thursday, shifting the drug from a category shared with heroin and LSD—reserved for substances with no accepted medical use and high abuse potential—to one with recognized medical applications and lower risk. According to reports from Axios and KATU News, this action fulfills a directive from President Trump's December 2025 executive order aimed at expediting the long-stalled rescheduling process.

This move builds on momentum started under the previous administration. In August 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended the shift to Schedule III after evaluating marijuana's medical uses, including treatment for pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and anorexia in certain conditions. The FDA and National Institute on Drug Abuse supported this, citing over 30,000 licensed practitioners recommending it to more than 6 million patients across 43 jurisdictions for at least 15 conditions. The DEA proposed the rule in May 2024, but it faced delays amid nearly 43,000 public comments; Trump's order in December jump-started completion, as detailed in White House documents and Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law analysis.

The change carries immediate practical impacts, especially for the medical marijuana industry operating in 40 states with legalized programs. State-licensed producers and distributors can now register more easily with the DEA, deduct business expenses on federal taxes for the first time, and supply researchers without penalty—unlocking rigorous studies on safety and efficacy. Blanche emphasized on social media that it will expand patient access, empower doctors, and legitimize existing programs, as noted by Fast Company and The Independent. Hemp-derived products like full-spectrum CBD also gain clearer pathways under the executive order.

While this boon aids patients, researchers, and businesses, it stops short of full legalization—recreational marijuana remains federally restricted, and the order explicitly clarifies no broader decriminalization. A public hearing on the wider rescheduling is set for June 29, signaling more steps ahead. The decision affects millions relying on state programs, eases tensions between federal and state laws, and could pave the way for innovation in cannabis-derived treatments, particularly as Trump separately directed reviews of psychedelics for veterans' PTSD and brain injuries.