Washigton DC: United States President Donald Trump has said that his administration is “very strongly” planning to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, which would ease federal restrictions.
If implemented, this decision could ease restrictions on research, providing relief to the cannabis industry in the country. The United States President’s statement came days after rumours that he is likely to ink an executive order which will instruct the federal agencies to process the reclassification of the drug, The Hill reported.
Trump Weighs Order To Loosen Federal Marijuana Restrictions
The US President said, “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. So we are looking at that very strongly.”
Shift Marijuana To Schedule III Under Us Drug Laws
It is to be noted that the process to shift marijuana to Schedule III was initiated under former President Joe Biden’s regime. The Biden administration started the process in 2024 to shift the drug to Schedule III under US drug laws. However, before the completion of the process Biden left the office.
US Classified Marijuana As A Schedule I Drug In 1971
Marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I drug since 1971, placing it in the same category as heroin and LSD. According to the *Drug Enforcement Administration, Schedule I drugs are defined as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Schedule III drugs, by contrast, include substances such as ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone and Tylenol with codeine.
Trump Supported The Reclassification Process
Trump had earlier expressed support for rescheduling marijuana during his election campaign. In August, he said a decision would be taken within “the next few weeks,” but no formal action followed.
While rescheduling would make research easier and reduce regulatory hurdles for businesses, it would not fully legalise marijuana at the federal level. Penalties for use and possession would still apply, and the move would fall short of complete decriminalisation.
Democrats criticised the proposal, questioning Trump’s intent. Senator Ron Wyden accused the president of misleading the public.
“He has not decriminalized cannabis or expunged the records of black and Latino Americans stuck in prison for minor drug offences. This is just an attempt to boost his pathetic approval ratings,” Wyden wrote on X.
At present, medical marijuana is legal in 42 US states and Washington, D.C., while 24 states have allowed its recreational use.