Donald Trump has signed an executive order to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III controlled substance, moving it out of the most restrictive drug category. The change eases restrictions on research and certain regulations but does not legalise the drug nationwide.
The reclassification shifts cannabis from Schedule I, alongside heroin, to Schedule III, which also includes ketamine and some prescription painkillers. It will not affect recreational marijuana laws or change how law enforcement handles cannabis-related arrests, according to senior administration officials.
The order also establishes a pilot programme to reimburse Medicare patients for CBD products and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to develop research methods using real-world evidence to study the long-term health effects of medical cannabis and hemp-derived products. It cites that one in five US adults and nearly 15% of seniors reported using CBD in the past year.
The move acknowledges that cannabis has recognised medical benefits and a lower risk of abuse than previously classified. Recent polling suggests 57% of Americans support legalising cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes, while 32% back medical use only.
Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said the order “validates the experiences of tens of millions of Americans” and physicians who recognise cannabis’s medical utility. However, he added that it “falls well short” of the changes needed, noting that 24 states have already legalised its use and sale.
