President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order Thursday reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug, multiple sources confirmed Tuesday.
The order will direct federal agencies to move marijuana into a less restrictive category under the Controlled Substances Act, though officials cautioned the timing could change.
Trump confirmed his plans Monday during an Oval Office appearance. “We are considering that because a lot of people want to see it — the reclassification, because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can’t be done unless you reclassify,” he told reporters. “So, we are looking at that very strongly.”
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The Drug Enforcement Administration currently classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, defined as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Schedule I includes heroin, LSD, and MDMA.
The reclassification would move marijuana to Schedule III, which the DEA defines as having “a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.” Other Schedule III drugs include ketamine, anabolic steroids, and Tylenol with codeine.
The change would not legalize marijuana nationwide. However, it would ease federal restrictions, reduce tax burdens on cannabis companies, remove banking barriers, and enable expanded medical research.
Trump held a two-hour Oval Office meeting on December 9 with cannabis industry executives, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary.
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The order may include directives for Congress to pass the SAFER Banking Act, which would give legal cannabis businesses access to major banks and financial institutions. Current law exposes banks to potential federal prosecution for serving cannabis companies.
Some versions of the order under consideration would authorize a Medicare pilot program covering cannabidiol products for seniors treating chronic pain and sleep disorders.
Read: Donald Trump Is Pro Pot? Executive Order Rumoured For Marijuana Rescheduling
The initiative builds on Biden administration efforts that began in October 2022. The Department of Health and Human Services concluded in August 2023 that cannabis has “currently accepted medical use” in the United States.
Trump announced support for marijuana reclassification during the 2024 presidential campaign, saying he would vote for a Florida ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana. He promised to “continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug.”
A November Gallup poll found 64% of US adults think marijuana use should be legal.
Critics note the proposal advances ahead of comprehensive clinical evidence supporting medical marijuana claims. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called the expected order “an attempt to boost his pathetic approval ratings.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., opposed the plan during the December 9 meeting, arguing that studies and data do not support the reclassification.
Advocacy groups urged Trump to couple reclassification with clemency for people imprisoned on cannabis-related charges.
The formal rescheduling process would require the Drug Enforcement Administration or Attorney General Pam Bondi to publish a final rule completing the administrative procedure.
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