Trump is expected to order federal agencies to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug, easing its federal restrictions, say reports. The move, which could be announced next week, would not legalise marijuana but would lower barriers to research and offer relief to the legal cannabis industry.
US President Donald Trump is expected to direct federal agencies to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug, placing it alongside certain prescription painkillers, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.
The executive order could be issued as early as next week, according to the report.
While the White House has not confirmed the move, officials cited in the report said the decision is nearly certain.
What the reclassification means
Marijuana has been listed as a Schedule I substance since 1970, grouped with heroin and LSD and defined as having a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Several US states, however, now allow both recreational and medical use.
Moving marijuana to Schedule III would align it with ketamine, anabolic steroids and Tylenol with codeine. Sources told the Washington Post that Trump wants to ease federal restrictions, reducing oversight to the level applied to other Schedule III drugs. He reportedly discussed the plan with House Speaker Mike Johnson during an Oval Office phone call on Wednesday.
The expected executive order would direct multiple agencies to begin the formal reclassification process.
Will this legalise marijuana?
The change would not legalise or decriminalise marijuana at the federal level. However, it would ease research barriers and provide financial relief to legal cannabis businesses.
In August, Trump said he was “looking at reclassification,” acknowledging divided public opinion. The Biden administration had also examined rescheduling cannabis.
The Washington Post reported that Trump met on Wednesday with marijuana industry executives, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services chief Mehmet Oz.
During the call, Johnson was said to be sceptical and presented studies opposing reclassification. Trump then handed the phone to industry executives in the room, who countered Johnson’s arguments. After the call, Trump appeared inclined to proceed, though the plan is not final and could still change.
A White House official said no definitive decision has been made. The Department of Health and Human Services referred queries to the White House, and the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services did not respond. Johnson’s office declined to comment.
Current classification
Marijuana remains a Schedule I substance under federal law, grouped with heroin and LSD and considered to have high abuse potential with no accepted medical use.
Under Trump’s proposal, it would shift to Schedule III, which regulators say carries lower abuse risks and includes drugs with recognised medical applications but some potential for dependence. Other Schedule III substances include Tylenol with codeine and certain hormone treatments.
Interest in reclassification cuts across party lines, with supporters pointing to marijuana’s medical use and widespread popularity. The legal cannabis industry is now worth billions across the country. Dozens of states and Washington, DC, allow medical marijuana, and 24 states permit recreational use.
The Biden administration had recommended moving marijuana to Schedule III in 2023, but the Drug Enforcement Administration did not complete the required reviews before Biden left office.
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