Trump reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug

Trump administration acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order Thursday reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.

The federal action officially designates the drug as less dangerous for licensed medical programs.

It separates state-regulated medical marijuana from the strictest prohibition category previously reserved for substances with no accepted medical use and high abuse potential.

The order does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law. However, it delivers major benefits to existing programs.

State-licensed medical marijuana operators gain a significant tax break by being allowed to deduct business expenses on federal taxes for the first time.

It also eases barriers to cannabis research by ensuring researchers will not be penalized for obtaining state-licensed products.

President Trump directed his administration in December to reclassify marijuana as quickly as possible.

Blanche stated the Department of Justice is “delivering on President Trump’s promise” to expand Americans’ access to medical treatment options.

“This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information,” Blanche said.

The move largely legitimizes medical marijuana programs operating in 40 states.

It establishes an expedited system for state-licensed producers and distributors to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Marijuana not distributed through state medical programs remains classified in Schedule I.

The administration is launching a separate process in June to consider broader rescheduling of marijuana.

This policy shift ends decades of treating cannabis like heroin at the federal level despite widespread state adoption since California’s 1996 medical program.