In a move that marks the most significant shift in U.S. drug policy in decades, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on December 18, 2025, reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. The decision, announced in a ceremony at the White House, signals a new chapter in the federal government’s approach to cannabis, one that could have lasting impacts for medical research, the cannabis industry, and millions of Americans living with chronic pain.
Previously, marijuana was grouped with the most tightly controlled substances in the country—heroin and LSD—under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. This category is reserved for drugs considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. The executive order now places marijuana in Schedule III, alongside prescription painkillers such as Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, and anabolic steroids, which the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency says have only a "moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence," according to BBC News.
The White House emphasized that the reclassification aims primarily to increase scientific research into marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD), particularly in the context of treating chronic pain and other medical conditions. A senior administration official told ABC News, "The executive order the President will sign today is focused on increasing medical research for medical marijuana and CBD." The official added, "The President is very focused on the potential medical benefits, and he has directed a commonsense approach that will automatically start working to improve the medical marijuana and CBD research to better inform patients and doctors. That's the primary goal."
The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to expedite the rescheduling process, clearing the way for researchers to study marijuana’s effects more freely than ever before. "His intent is to remove barriers to research. The president has heard from so many people who have talked about the potential benefits of medical marijuana and CBD use, but he's also heard from patients and from doctors that there's not enough research to inform medical guidelines that many patients are using these products without talking to their doctor about them," the White House official explained to ABC News.
For the first time at the federal level, the government is formally recognizing that marijuana could have medical value. This is a striking departure from the decades-old stance that cannabis has no accepted medical use. The executive order was framed as a fulfillment of a campaign promise made by Trump during his 2024 run for president, a promise that resonated especially with younger voters and those advocating for criminal justice reform. Trump had previously stated he would support research into the medical benefits of marijuana and that individuals should not be arrested or incarcerated for small amounts of personal use.
During the signing ceremony in the Oval Office, President Trump remarked that people have been "begging" for this change, particularly those suffering from "incurable pain," cancer, seizure disorders, and veterans with service-related injuries, as reported by BBC News. He drew a comparison between cannabis and prescription painkillers, noting that while both have legitimate medical uses, they "can also do irreversible damages."
The order also has practical implications for state-authorized cannabis dispensaries. Under current federal regulations, businesses that sell Schedule I products are barred from certain tax deductions. By moving marijuana to Schedule III, these dispensaries may now be able to claim deductions, potentially easing some of the financial burdens faced by the burgeoning legal cannabis industry.
Trump’s order goes further, instructing White House officials to collaborate with Congress to expand access to CBD, a non-intoxicating component of cannabis that has gained popularity for its purported health benefits. Health officials are now tasked with developing "methods and models" to examine the real-world health benefits and risks of CBD, according to BBC News.
The executive order does not, however, fully legalize marijuana at the federal level. Possession of marijuana remains a violation of federal law unless Congress acts to change the law. As a senior official clarified to ABC News, "Anyone possessing marijuana would be in violation of the CSA (Controlled Substances Act) and still remain subject to arrest under federal law. The schedule III change is not changing federal policy regarding that." Changing federal law to legalize marijuana outright would require Congressional approval.
The move has been met with both praise and criticism. Tim Barash, chairman of the Coalition of Cannabis Scheduling Reform, hailed the decision as a "fundamental shift" in government and societal perceptions of cannabis. "This change will empower the 425,000 people working in the US cannabis industry and bring in new talent, capital, and awareness to an industry that has a positive impact on millions of people's lives," Barash stated, as quoted by BBC News.
Yet, not everyone is on board. Several Republican lawmakers have voiced strong opposition, arguing that the reclassification could normalize cannabis use and harm public health. On Wednesday, a group of 22 Republican Senators sent an open letter to the president, warning, "we cannot re-industrialise America" if marijuana use is facilitated. The Senators cited concerns over cannabis’s potential to cause "impaired judgement" and "lack of concentration." In a separate letter to Attorney General Bondi, nine Republican representatives wrote, "Marijuana, while different than heroin, still has the potential for abuse and has no scientifically proven medical value. Therefore, rescheduling marijuana would not only be objectively wrong, but it would also imply to our children that marijuana is safe. That couldn't be further from the truth."
Despite the pushback, public opinion appears to favor reform. A Gallup poll released in November found that 64% of Americans support legalizing marijuana, though support has dipped slightly due to a 13-point decline among Republicans. In recent years, a majority of states have legalized cannabis for some medical use, and nearly half—24 states—have approved it for recreational use, according to BBC News.
The order also shines a spotlight on the nation’s chronic pain crisis. Nearly one in four U.S. adults suffer from chronic pain, and more than one in three seniors report using medical marijuana to manage it. Yet, only 56% of seniors who use medical marijuana have discussed it with their doctors, exposing a significant gap in quality care, according to ABC News. By making medical marijuana more accessible for research and potential prescription, healthcare providers hope to foster better conversations about the risks, benefits, and interactions with other medications.
While the order does not resolve every legal and regulatory challenge, it represents a dramatic shift in the federal government’s stance on cannabis. The move opens the door to expanded research, clearer guidelines for patients and doctors, and greater flexibility for the legal cannabis industry. For millions of Americans living with pain and seeking alternatives to traditional pharmaceuticals, the change could be the beginning of a new era in medical treatment and understanding.
