President Donald Trump is reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance to a Schedule III.
The announcement, made Thursday, Dec. 18, marks a major shift in U.S. drug policy and could reshape both scientific research and the economics of the cannabis industry.
Trump emphasized that the change does not signal support for recreational marijuana use. After signing an executive order to update the drug’s classification, he said the intent is to expand access for patients—such as people with cancer—who rely on marijuana or its derivatives for medical purposes.
“We have people begging for me to do this, people that are in great pain,” Trump, 79, told reporters after signing the order. “Hopefully this reclassification — which, by the way, polls at 82% — will help many of those patients live a better life.”
“People say it’s beyond good,” he added, referring to medical use. “I promised to be the president of common sense, and that is exactly what we’re doing.”
Under the Drug Enforcement Administration’s definitions, Schedule I substances are those with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Examples include heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ecstasy, methaqualone, and peyote.
Schedule III drugs, by contrast, are categorized as having a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. This group includes ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone, and products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit, such as Tylenol with codeine.
Despite the reclassification, marijuana will remain illegal at the federal level for now. (It is currently legal for recreational use in 24 U.S. states, two territories, and the District of Columbia.)
Still, moving marijuana to a lower schedule could make it easier to conduct research, which is often more restricted for substances in higher schedules. The change could also affect taxation: businesses selling marijuana legally under state law may become eligible for certain deductions that are generally unavailable when a product is classified as a Schedule I substance.
Trump also made reclassification a campaign issue during the 2024 election. In a Truth Social post on Sept. 8, 2024, he wrote, “I believe it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use.”
“We must also implement smart regulations, while providing access for adults, to safe, tested product,” he continued. “As President, we will continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug, and work with Congress to pass common sense laws, including safe banking for state authorized companies, and supporting states rights to pass marijuana laws, like in Florida, that work so well for their citizens.”
Months earlier, his predecessor, President Joe Biden, announced a similar plan to reclassify the drug. However, legal and administrative challenges prevented the Justice Department from completing the change before he left office.
