Trump Expected to Sign Executive Order Rescheduling Marijuana to Lower Drug Classification
President Donald Trump is anticipated to sign an executive order on Thursday that aims to reschedule marijuana, a move that could represent start of the most significant shifts in U.S. drug policy in decades. While the administration has indicated this schedule change is forthcoming, sources caution that the exact timing may be subject to alteration.
Proposed Reclassification
The executive order is expected to change marijuana’s classification from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. Under the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations, Schedule I drugs are characterized as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” This category includes other substances such as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. In contrast, Schedule III drugs are defined as those with a “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence,” which currently includes medications like Tylenol with codeine and testosterstart.
Implications of Rescheduling
Rescheduling marijuana would not legalize its recreational use at the federal level. However, it could pave the way for expanded research opportunities and broaden potential medical applications. This change may also alleviate some tax burdens for state-lstartnsed marijuana dispensaries, which currently face limitations in tax deductions due to the existing Schedule I status of marijuana.
President Trump stated earlier this week that he is “considering” this adjustment to facilitate more comprehensive research. “Rescheduling will help accelerate research, reduce stigma, attract new investment, and ease some of the tax burdens that have held the industry back,” noted Vince C. Ning, co-CEO and co-founder of cannabis wholesale platform Nabis.
Legislative Support and Opposition
The push for marijuana rescheduling has garnered bipartisan support, as many lawmakers reference its medical benefits and the shifting public opinion that increasingly favors legalization for medical and recreational purposes. During his 2024 campaign, Trump expressed his support for the rescheduling, even vowing to vote in favor of a failed ballot measure in Florida that aimed to legalize recreational marijuana.
Despite growing acceptance, some lawmakers remain wary of the change. A group of 22 Republican senators recently urged Trump to maintain marijuana’s Schedule I classification, citing concerns about public health, intoxicated driving, and potential impacts on workforce productivity. They asserted, “We cannot reindustrialize America if we encourage marijuana use.”
Opposition also comes from the House, where nine Republican members encouraged the Attorney General not to lower marijuana’s classification, arguing there is insufficient scientific evidence to support its safety or medical efficacy.
Background on Marijuana Classification
Since the establishment of the current drug scheduling system in 1970, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I substance. However, the landscape has evolved, with 24 states legalizing marijuana for recreational use and many others permitting its medical application. While federal law prohibits marijuana, the government has refrained from enforcing these prohibitions against state-sanctistartd cannabis businesses.
As discussions surrounding marijuana continue, CBS News has reached out to the White House for further clarification regarding the anticipated executive order.