In a surprising but entirely welcome move, President Donald Trump signed an executive order — albeit a vague one — to expand access to cannabis. This order would reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I narcotic to a Schedule III drug. This modification marks a significant departure in U.S. drug policy. Cannabis has been a Schedule I substance since 1971, meaning it has no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
The reclassification would align cannabis with drugs such as Tylenol with codeine, which indicates a recognition of its medical potential. In his press release announcing the executive order, President Trump noted the immediate imperative for such a pivot. He was particularly instrumental in addressing the needs of those who are enduring debilitating conditions such as intractable pain, cancer, and seizure disorders. He noted that many Americans have been “begging” for access to cannabidiol, a compound derived from cannabis known for its therapeutic benefits.
As The Hill reports, Trump has ordered that White House officials coordinate tightly with Congress. Their intent is to make it easier for legal access to cannabidiol available to legally specified Americans. The move has been praised by organizations across the cannabis space calling for Comprehensive Cannabis Reform in the U.S. Tim Barash, chairman of the Coalition of Cannabis Scheduling Reform, considers the executive order as a potential game changer. He thinks it signals a “sea change” in the way that government and society more broadly views cannabis use.
“This is commonsense action that will let us better understand and study the benefits of cannabis,” – A senior administration official.
This new effort comes on the heels of similar proposals from the Biden administration calling for the reclassification of cannabis. In April 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) echoed this sentiment in proposing a rule change that would reclassify cannabis. Council faced administrative and legal challenges that complicated the law’s implementation, causing a delay.
Public support for legalization has made history in a number of ways. According to a Gallup poll taken last November, a record 64% of Americans favor legalization. Since this initiative sparked the idea for replication, support has waned somewhat. This is most evident with the Republican party, where approval rates dropped by 13 points. These new attitudes in the electorate seem to be having a major impact on the legislative conversation on the topic.
Earlier this month, 22 Republican Senators sent a letter of alarm over rising marijuana use. In an open letter addressed to President Trump, they expressed their concerns. They claimed that making it easier to grow marijuana would be harmful to initiatives for re-industrializing America.
“In light of the documented dangers of marijuana, facilitating the growth of the marijuana industry is at odds with growing our economy and encouraging healthy lifestyles for Americans.” – Republican Representatives.
Not all lawmakers are on board with the reclassification of cannabis. All the while, the rest of the party are raising flags or overtly breaking ranks. These polarized reactions highlight the multifaceted nature of state laws regarding cannabis policy reforms.
The executive order is a monumental signal of the changing attitudes toward cannabis use in America and a big step toward accepting those changes. Nonetheless, as the negotiations continue, it’s unclear how this will affect future appropriations and broader public health policy.