Trump orders rescheduling of marijuana for medical use
President Trump announced an executive order directing the federal government to complete the process of rescheduling marijuana under federal law, citing scientific findings supporting its medical use, according to the order.
The order was signed on Thursday. It directs the attorney general to take all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, according to the White House.
Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I substance, which is defined as having no accepted medical use.
According to the executive order, the Food and Drug Administration completed a review in 2023 and found scientific support for the medical use of marijuana in the treatment of pain, nausea and vomiting, and anorexia related to certain medical conditions.
The order also cites a recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III, a position that was supported by the FDA and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The order states that more than 30,000 licensed health care practitioners across 43 U.S. jurisdictions are authorized to recommend medical marijuana to more than 6 million registered patients. It also notes that chronic pain affects nearly one in four U.S. adults and more than one in three seniors.
The Justice Department issued a proposed rule in May 2024 to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III. According to the order, the proposal received nearly 43,000 public comments and is currently awaiting an administrative law hearing.
Trump said the executive order is limited to medical use and does not legalize marijuana. “I want to emphasize that the order I am about to sign is not the legalization [of] marijuana in any way, shape, or form, and in no way sanctions its use as a recreational drug.”
The order also directs federal agencies to expand research on medical marijuana and hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including cannabidiol, or CBD. It calls for the development of research models using real-world evidence and improved regulatory guidance for patients and health care providers.
Senior White House officials are also instructed to work with Congress on updating statutory definitions for hemp-derived cannabinoid products and developing a regulatory framework, including guidance on THC limits and labeling requirements, according to the order.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
