 has reiterated its stance on the potential rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to III.){kind=link}
American Nurses Association has made a statement on its position regarding the possible rescheduling cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule III.
The US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on December 18, this year, that directed the reclassification cannabis, which is currently classified as Schedule I (a group of drugs including heroin), to Schedule III.
It is President Trump’s Administration policy to promote medical marijuana (cannabidiol), and to improve the information provided to patients and physicians. However, this is more challenging when a substance (in this case wrongly) is listed as a Schedule I controlled substance.
The potential move to Schedule III was not initiated by President Trump. In 2022, it was Joe Biden’s predecessor who signaled he would request that the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Attorney General begin an administrative review to determine how marijuana was classified under federal law.
The announcement received a positive response. In a poll taken not long afterwards, 72% of respondents said they supported the change in federal classification to remove marijuana from Schedule I.
American Nurses Associations (ANAs) were among those who welcomed Biden’s announcement. ANA is a registered nurse advocacy group that has existed for over 125 years. Founded in the year 1896, ANA has over 25,000 members across all 50 U.S. States and territories.
By 2024, ANA had published their official position, stating that rescheduling cannabis would enable full-scale research to be conducted into the benefits of medical marijuana treatment, as well as allowing nurses and other healthcare practitioners the opportunity to offer the best care for patients. Further, the ANA stated that it should eventually be taken off of the CSA’s schedule.
On 18 December 2025, ANA issued a press release on President Trump’s Executive Order. It said that rescheduling Cannabis to Schedule III advances public health, by increasing access to rigorous scientific research, supporting clinical care based on evidence and enhancing patient security through regulated study.
Part of the statement reads: “ANA fully supports President Obama’s Executive Order rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.” the statement.
It has supported the use of marijuana for therapeutic purposes since its inception.
The ANA states that “This action reflects a scientific review, and acknowledges the evidence demonstrating cannabis’ accepted medical use as well as a safety profile compatible with Schedule III classification.” The ANA states that “clearer alignment” between federal policy, medical practices and patient care supports more consistent guidelines for both health professionals and patients.