US President Donald Trump keeps his promise made during the election to move cannabis to Schedule III. This is a much less restrictive category than Schedule I.
Cannabis was a Schedule I narcotic In the USA, the use of heroin began in the early 70’s. Drugs within this category — which include heroin — are meant to have no accepted medical use and a high abuse potential. Schedule I is a misclassification, to be honest. And the associated restrictions are a major barrier to scientific research.
Donald Trump announced in September of last year that his administration, as president, would reclassify marijuana to Schedule III, which also includes substances like ketamine testosterone, and codeine. Schedule III drugs, which are widely accepted for medical purposes and considered to be “intermediately abuse-potential,” have a lower potential than Schedule II yet higher than Schedule IV.
Trump announced in August that his administration would be evaluating reclassification, and the decision will come “in the next few weeks”.
Trump stated, “I heard wonderful things that had to do medically and I heard terrible things with regard to everything else.” It’s an extremely complicated topic.
On December 18 2025, the President pulled the trigger on an Executive Order directing the reclassification; which states it is the policy of the Administration to increase medical marijuana and CBD (cannabidiol) research to better inform patients and doctors.
“… decades of Federal drug control policy have neglected marijuana’s medical uses,” states the Order. This oversight has compromised the scientists’ and manufacturers’ ability to conduct the research necessary to provide doctors and patients with the information they need.
Paul Armentano’s Deputy director, NORML, commented on the Order. said This directive is a welcome change. He also cautioned that it falls far short of what is needed to move marijuana policy on a federal scale into the 21st Century.
“Specifically, rescheduling fails to harmonize federal marijuana policy with the cannabis laws of most states, particularly the 24 states that have legalized its use and sale to adults — thereby leaving those who produce, dispense, possess, or use marijuana in compliance with state laws in jeopardy of federal prosecution.”
But recreational/adult-use doesn’t appear to be something weighing on President Trump’s mind based on previous comments and those he made during the ceremony for signing the Order.
“… the order I am about to sign is not the legalization or it doesn’t legalize marijuana in any way, shape or form and in no way sanctions its use as a recreational drug. Doesn’t have anything to do with marijuana. “Just as prescribed.”
Rescheduling can’t come into effect immediately — this still needs to get through the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) formal rule-making process and the timeline in which this may occur at this stage isn’t clear.
The cannabis industry advocate group has also commented on the Executive Order. Hemp Roundtable said:
“… we are especially pleased to see the provisions that direct the White House staff and urge Congress to ensure access to hemp-derived, full-spectrum CBD products, a lifeblood of the industry. “We are delighted to see the creation of a new model which would enable Medicare recipients to get CBD free of charge on doctor’s recommendation.”