Schedule I drugs are defined as having no accepted medical use, while Schedule III substances are recognised as having medical value and a lower potential for abuse.
Such a change would not legalise recreational marijuana nationwide, but it could ease federal restrictions, alter regulation and reduce the tax burden faced by the cannabis industry, as per a report by news agency Associated Press (AP).Marijuana is currently grouped with heroin and LSD, while Schedule III includes drugs such as ketamine, as per AP.
Research and patient access
The executive order stated that decades of federal policy have “neglected marijuana’s medical uses”, limiting scientific research into safety and effectiveness.
It cited findings by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services that show “credible scientific support” for using marijuana to treat pain, nausea, vomiting and anorexia linked to medical conditions.
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According to the order, more than 30,000 licensed healthcare practitioners across 43 US jurisdictions are authorised to recommend medical marijuana for over 6 million registered patients.
Trump said he had received strong public support for the move, stating: “We have people begging for me to do this. People that are in great pain.”
Focus on CBD and hemp products
The order also placed emphasis on cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp-derived cannabinoid products. It called for collaboration with Congress to update definitions governing full-spectrum CBD, while ensuring products that pose health risks remain restricted.
US Federal agencies, including HHS, the FDA and the National Institutes of Health, have been asked to develop real-world research models to guide standards of care.
A new Medicare pilot programme would allow older adults to access legal hemp-derived CBD at no cost if recommended by a doctor, according to Dr Mehmet Oz, who heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, reported AP.
Political divide and opposition
The move has drawn resistance from within Trump’s own party. AP report said that more than 20 Republican senators earlier urged the president to keep marijuana as a Schedule I drug, arguing that rescheduling could harm public health and safety.
A letter led by Senator Ted Budd warned that “the only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors such as Communist China”.
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Critics have also questioned the consistency of the policy. Jack Riley, a former deputy administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said “That is clearly a contradiction,” referring to Trump’s simultaneous crackdown on fentanyl trafficking, as per AP.
Despite opposition, the president said ‘the facts compel’ the government to acknowledge marijuana’s legitimate medical applications, reflecting changing attitudes across many US states, as per AP.
