President Trump Directs Marijuana Rescheduling to Schedule III by Executive Order

On Thursday, December 18, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating the reclassification of marijuana from its current status as a Schedule I controlled substance to Schedule III. This federal action represents a significant shift in national drug control policy, aiming to align federal regulation more closely with the increasing acceptance of cannabis for medical applications across numerous states.

President Trump characterized the directive as a measure of "common sense" upon signing the order. He subsequently tasked Attorney General Pam Bondi with the immediate commencement of the formal rescheduling procedure. This administrative pivot follows procedural groundwork initiated during the preceding Biden administration, suggesting a bipartisan momentum toward policy reevaluation.

The Schedule III designation moves marijuana into a category alongside substances such as acetaminophen with codeine and anabolic steroids, which are recognized as having accepted medical use and a lower potential for abuse than Schedule I or II drugs. This reclassification is anticipated to generate profound implications for the burgeoning state-legal cannabis industry, which has contended with federal prohibition, including restrictive tax codes like Section 280E.

The move could potentially unlock broader access to capital and facilitate scientific research, which has been constrained under the Schedule I designation. Background context indicates that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had previously initiated a review of marijuana’s classification, a process often involving rigorous scientific and medical evaluation by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Legal experts note that while the executive order directs the process, actual implementation requires formal rulemaking by the DEA, a multi-step administrative procedure that includes public comment periods and final publication in the Federal Register. This administrative journey, even when expedited by executive directive, typically requires several months to complete, meaning practical changes for businesses and consumers will be phased.

The decision to proceed with the reclassification to Schedule III on December 18, 2025, directly impacts sectors ranging from pharmaceutical development to retail operations in states where cannabis is already legal. Proponents view the move as a necessary step to rationalize federal law with contemporary medical understanding and state-level policy realities, while industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies will closely scrutinize the implementation details.