US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the reclassification of marijuana as a less dangerous drug, marking one of the most significant shifts in America’s drug policy in recent years.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump announced that marijuana would be moved from Schedule I which is the most restrictive category under US drug laws to Schedule III, a classification reserved for substances recognised to have medical value and lower potential for abuse.
“This is a major step,” Trump said, explaining that the decision is aimed at expanding scientific and medical research into cannabis and its potential benefits.
Under current law, marijuana is grouped alongside drugs such as heroin and LSD, which are considered to have no accepted medical use. By contrast, Schedule III substances, including ketamine and anabolic steroids, are permitted for medical use under regulated conditions.
Trump stressed that the order does not legalise marijuana for recreational use at the federal level.
“This is not legalization in any way,” he said. “It does not approve or encourage recreational use.”
The 79-year-old president, who has long spoken against drug use, added that he has always advised his children to stay away from drugs, alcohol, and smoking.
Although marijuana remains illegal under federal law, dozens of US states already allow its medical use, while many have also legalised it for recreational purposes. In fact, small amounts of cannabis are already legal for recreational use in 24 states and Washington, DC.
Trump noted that many experts and industry stakeholders have pushed for reclassification, arguing that strict federal controls have made it difficult to conduct proper medical research.
“Reclassification opens the door to research that simply can’t happen under Schedule I,” he said earlier this week.
The policy shift could also have significant economic and tax implications for businesses involved in the legal cultivation and sale of cannabis.
While US presidents cannot directly reclassify controlled substances, Trump’s order instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi to fast-track the necessary regulatory process.
A similar effort was initiated under former President Joe Biden, but it stalled and was not completed before Trump returned to office in early 2025.
Despite the federal move, the United States continues to operate a patchwork of state-level cannabis laws, with varying rules on possession, sales, and personal cultivation.
Advertisement
