Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order expanding access to marijuana, a long-awaited move that would mark the most significant shift in U.S. drug policy in decades.
U.S. media reported that the order is expected to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I narcotic drug to a Schedule III drug, putting it in the same category as codeine-containing Tylenol.
Even with reclassification, marijuana will remain illegal at the federal level. But classifying it as a Schedule III narcotic would allow for broader research into its potential benefits.
Several Republican lawmakers have warned against the move, which some believe could normalize marijuana use.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration states that Schedule III narcotics (which also include ketamine and anabolic steroids) have only “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”
The executive order could be issued as early as Thursday, although the timing could change, according to BBC US partner CBS.
The new classification could also have tax implications for state-licensed marijuana dispensaries, since current regulations prohibit them from taking some tax breaks when selling Schedule I products.
Multiple U.S. news outlets reported that the announcement may also include a pilot program that would reimburse some older Americans for cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, for conditions including cancer treatment.
In recent years, most U.S. states have approved marijuana for some medical use, and nearly half (24 states) have legalized recreational use. But since 1971, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I narcotic, meaning it has no accepted medical use and has a high potential for abuse.
Earlier this week, Trump said he was “considering” reclassification because “a lot of the research can’t be done unless it’s reclassified.”
The Biden administration has proposed a similar reclassification in April 2024 DEA proposes rule changesbut was mired in administrative and legal issues.
Trump has long expressed a desire to change U.S. drug policy regarding marijuana.
“I believe it is time to end the endless arrests and incarceration of adults for personal use of small amounts of marijuana,” he wrote on Truth Social last year while running for president.
“We must also implement smart regulations while providing adults with access to safe, tested products,” he said.
The reclassification proposal has met with some resistance from Republican lawmakers.
On Wednesday, 22 Republican senators sent an open letter to the president arguing that marijuana use means “we cannot re-industrialize America.”
The senators pointed to lingering concerns about the health effects of marijuana, with studies showing it may be linked to “impaired judgment” and “difficulties in concentration.”
“Given the documented dangers of cannabis, promoting the growth of the cannabis industry is inconsistent with growing our economy and encouraging Americans to live healthy lifestyles.”
In a separate letter sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi in August, nine Republican representatives argued that there was “insufficient science or data” to support the change.
“Marijuana, while different from heroin, still has abuse potential and has no scientifically proven medical value,” the letter said. “Therefore, rescheduling marijuana is not only objectively wrong, but it also implies to our children that marijuana is safe. This could not be further from the truth.”
More broadly, polls show that a majority of Americans support efforts to legalize marijuana.
A Gallup poll released in November found that 64% of Americans think it should be legalized, although support is down slightly from previous years as support among Republicans fell 13 points.
