Trump Administration to Reclassify Marijuana as Schedule III Drug This Week

The Trump administration is expected to take a significant step toward reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug as early as Wednesday, according to an administration official familiar with the matter.

This move follows a 2023 executive order from President Trump directing federal agencies to initiate the reclassification process—a process that has been years in the making.

Why This Reclassification Matters

The reclassification would ease barriers imposed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), making it far easier to study marijuana’s potential medicinal applications. While the change does not legalize marijuana nationwide, it represents a major shift in federal drug policy and could garner support from researchers and advocacy groups.

Critically, the reclassification would not:

• Immediately legalize marijuana at the federal level.
• Impact the sentences of individuals currently incarcerated for marijuana possession.

How the Reclassification Process Works

Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, a category reserved for substances with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule III drugs, by contrast, are defined as having a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence and some accepted medical uses.

Reclassifying marijuana to Schedule III would:

• Reduce regulatory hurdles for researchers studying its medical benefits.
• Allow for greater pharmaceutical development and clinical trials.
• Potentially influence state-level marijuana policies and banking regulations.

What’s Next?

While the timeline remains fluid, the administration’s action could come as soon as this week. The rule change would mark a historic shift in U.S. drug policy, though full implementation may take additional time.

Editor’s note: This is a breaking news story. Updates will be provided as more details become available.