Trump Signs Executive Order to Reclassify Marijuana for Medical Research
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a significant move aimed at advancing medical research, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing the federal government to accelerate the reclassification of marijuana. The order instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi to expedite the process of moving cannabis from its current Schedule I status — a category reserved for drugs considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse — to Schedule III, which recognizes legitimate medical applications.
Speaking in the Oval Office during the signing ceremony, Trump emphasized that the order does not legalize marijuana for recreational use. “I want to emphasize that 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,” he said. He added a cautionary note, urging the public to avoid marijuana unless prescribed by a doctor for medical reasons.
The president cited polling data indicating widespread public support for rescheduling marijuana, which remains federally classified alongside substances such as heroin, LSD, and MDMA. Reclassifying marijuana to Schedule III would place it in the same category as opioids, anabolic steroids, and ketamine — drugs that require prescriptions and are recognized for their medical uses.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) first acknowledged marijuana’s legitimate medical potential in 2023. Since then, 40 states and the District of Columbia have enacted medical marijuana laws, with more than 30,000 healthcare providers authorized to prescribe cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) for medicinal purposes. However, federal restrictions have limited comprehensive research, making it difficult for medical professionals to develop standardized guidelines or fully understand the drug’s effects.
The executive order aims to facilitate scientific studies that could clarify the therapeutic benefits and risks of medical marijuana and CBD products. The White House noted that enhanced research would help doctors and patients make more informed decisions regarding treatment options.
Currently, the variability among marijuana strains and their potencies complicates standardization efforts. In contrast, CBD oil has become more standardized, easing dosage recommendations and regulatory compliance. By rescheduling cannabis, the federal government hopes to streamline research protocols and regulatory oversight.
The move comes amid ongoing debates about marijuana’s legal status and its role in public health. While some states have legalized recreational marijuana, federal law continues to prohibit its use outside of medical contexts. The executive order stops short of altering this stance but represents a notable shift toward recognizing cannabis’s medical value.
Attorney General Bondi, tasked with implementing the order, will coordinate with agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration to revise scheduling regulations. The Food and Drug Administration will also play a critical role in overseeing the safety and efficacy evaluations of marijuana-based treatments.
This development follows years of advocacy from medical professionals and patient groups seeking federal acknowledgment of marijuana’s therapeutic potential. It also aligns with evolving public opinion and state-level policy changes that have increasingly embraced medical cannabis.
As research expands under the new directive, experts anticipate improved understanding of marijuana’s applications in treating conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. However, the administration maintains a cautious stance, underscoring the importance of medical supervision and the risks of recreational use.
The executive order marks a pivotal step in federal drug policy, potentially reshaping the landscape for medical marijuana research and patient care across the United States.
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