The anticipated move would place marijuana in a category reserved for substances considered to have accepted medical use and lower abuse potential.
President Trump is expected to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act, a change that could significantly alter federal cannabis policy, according to officials.
President Donald Trump is expected to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug, according to officials familiar with the matter. The move would mark a major shift in federal drug policy by moving cannabis out of the most restrictive category under U.S. law.
Under the Controlled Substances Act, Schedule III drugs are defined as substances with an accepted medical use and a lower potential for abuse compared to Schedule I drugs. Marijuana is currently classified as Schedule I, alongside substances such as heroin, a category reserved for drugs deemed to have no accepted medical use.
Officials say the reclassification could ease regulatory barriers for medical research and reduce certain legal and financial constraints tied to cannabis-related businesses. However, marijuana would remain illegal for recreational use under federal law unless further legislative or regulatory changes are made.
The expected move follows years of debate among lawmakers, regulators, and medical experts over marijuana’s classification. Critics of Schedule I status have argued that it does not reflect current scientific understanding or state-level legalization trends.
Supporters of reclassification say the change could bring federal policy more in line with the majority of U.S. states that have legalized marijuana for medical use. Opponents, however, caution that reclassification could carry public health risks and create regulatory uncertainty.
The White House has not yet issued a formal announcement, and the timing and scope of the decision have not been independently verified. Officials said further details are expected once the process is finalized.
