The Trump administration has moved to reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, shifting it from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. This change follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump and an order signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
By moving to Schedule III, marijuana is no longer classified alongside heroin, LSD, MDMA, and synthetic opioids, but is instead placed in the same category as ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone. The Justice Department announced that the shift will ease research barriers and open the door for more treatment options and tax relief.
While the policy change alters how the drug is regulated, it does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law, nor does it change current federal penalties. However, the shift could make it easier to buy and sell the substance and reward investors in the multibillion-dollar cannabis industry.
The announcement was made on Thursday, and the Drug Enforcement Agency is expected to announce the first steps toward reclassifying the drug as soon as this week.