WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order directing federal agencies to expedite the reclassification of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, a move the administration says is intended to expand medical research.
The order instructs the attorney general to complete the rescheduling process, which began under the Biden administration but was not finalized before Trump took office. Trump said the directive is focused on increasing research into marijuana and cannabidiol, or CBD, and does not legalize the drug.
“This order is not the legalization of marijuana in any way, shape or form, and it does not sanction its use as a recreational drug,” Trump said during remarks in the Oval Office.
Under federal law, Schedule I substances are defined as having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Marijuana is currently classified alongside heroin and LSD. Schedule III substances are considered to have a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence and accepted medical applications.
Trump cautioned against recreational use of marijuana, saying controlled substances should only be used when recommended by a doctor for medical reasons.
“It’s never safe to use powerful controlled substances in a recreational manner,” he said.
Administration officials cited reviews conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2023 that found more than 30,000 licensed health care providers nationwide were able to recommend medical marijuana to more than 6 million registered patients for at least 15 conditions.
Medical experts who attended the signing said the reclassification would allow more rigorous study of cannabis.
“Rescheduling allows us to ask important questions about dosing, safety and who may benefit most,” said Ilana Braun, a cancer psychiatrist and medical cannabis researcher at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The executive order also addresses CBD, directing White House officials to work with Congress to expand access to CBD products while maintaining restrictions on products that pose health risks.
The order does not legalize marijuana nationwide. Trump said he remains opposed to legalizing cannabis for recreational use.
Public support for marijuana policy changes has grown in recent years. A November Gallup poll found that 64% of U.S. adults believe marijuana should be legal.
