Trump Administration Moves Medical Marijuana to Less Restrictive Federal Classification

In a significant policy development, President Donald Trump's acting attorney general Todd Blanche signed an executive order on Thursday, April 23, shifting the federal classification of state-licensed medical marijuana to a less tightly controlled category.

The reclassification moves medical marijuana from Schedule I—the most restrictive category reserved for substances deemed to have no medical value and high abuse potential—to Schedule III, which carries fewer regulatory burdens.

While the action stops short of legalizing marijuana at the federal level for medical or recreational purposes, it fundamentally alters how the substance is regulated. The change also extends significant tax advantages to licensed medical marijuana businesses and removes certain barriers to conducting cannabis research.

The Department of Justice has scheduled a public hearing for June 29 to address the proposed rescheduling of marijuana, according to an announcement from the Office of Public Affairs.

"The Department of Justice is delivering on President Trump's promise to expand Americans' access to medical treatment options. This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information," Blanche stated in an official release.

DEA Administrator Terry Cole echoed the administration's commitment to the initiative, noting that the agency is "expeditiously moving forward with the administrative hearing process — bringing consistency and oversight to an area that has lacked both." Cole added that law enforcement remains focused on combating drug cartels, the fentanyl crisis, and safeguarding American communities.