Trump DOJ moves to loosen federal regulations on medical marijuana

The Trump administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) announced April 23 that it was moving to loosen federal restrictions on state-licensed medical marijuana by reclassifying it as a “less dangerous” drug.

In an April 23 X post, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said he signed an executive order directing the immediate reclassification of Food and Drug Administration-approved marijuana and state-licensed marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. He also called for an “expedited hearing” to fully reschedule the drug. 

Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, Schedule I is the most restrictive drug classification, and drugs in this category are deemed to have “no currently accepted medical use” and a “high potential for abuse.” Schedule III drugs, on the other hand, are considered to have a “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence” and include ketamine, testosterone, and Tylenol with codeine.

The change does not legalize marijuana at the federal level, but it reduces regulatory barriers for medical cannabis programs that are already legal in some states. The DOJ said in a press release that a hearing will be held on June 29 to “evaluate broader changes to marijuana’s status under federal law.”

“The Department of Justice is delivering on President Trump’s promise to expand Americans’ access to medical treatment options,” Blanche said in the release. “This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information.”

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