By Jeff Devine
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order Thursday that would reclassify marijuana under federal law, according to a senior White House official. The action, which is a reversal from his previous drug policies, would ease federal restrictions on marijuana. However, the order would not permit full federal legalization.
Under current Drug Enforcement Administration guidelines, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, a category reserved for substances considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Other examples of Schedule I drugs include heroin, LSD, and methamphetamine. The executive order would move marijuana to Schedule III, a lower classification that recognizes medical value and a reduced risk of dependence. Examples of Schedule III drugs include Tylenol 3 (acetaminophen with codeine) and certain barbiturates.
Reclassifying marijuana would expand research opportunities, reduce regulatory barriers, and make access easier for medical use.
President Trump first discussed the possibility of reclassification during last year’s campaign and revisited the issue earlier this week, saying he is giving the matter serious consideration due to strong public interest. In his first administration, he opposed the changes. This week, however, he noted that the current classification limits medical research that could otherwise be conducted.
While marijuana would remain illegal at the federal level, the move could have broad impacts. It would lower penalties for certain marijuana-related offenses, improve access for patients seeking medical marijuana, and align federal policy more closely with state laws. Last year, there were over 200,000 people arrested for marijuana offenses, making up nearly 25% of the total drug-related arrests. The vast majority of the arrests were for possession only and not for trafficking.
Currently, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana, and other states, including Alabama, have enacted medical cannabis laws. The reclassification would help ease conflicts between state and federal regulations.
