The Trump administration has moved to reclassify state-licensed marijuana as a “less dangerous” substance, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Thursday.
Blanche said he has signed an order shifting FDA-approved and state-licensed cannabis from Schedule I reserved for drugs such as heroin with no accepted medical use to the less restrictive Schedule III category.
According to him, the decision is part of efforts to fulfill President Donald Trump’s pledge to broaden access to medical treatment options for Americans.
He explained that the change would support expanded scientific research into the safety and effectiveness of marijuana, which he said could ultimately improve patient care and provide doctors with more reliable medical data.
Blanche also clarified that the order does not immediately legalize marijuana in general but instead launches an expedited review process with strict deadlines aimed at fully reassessing its classification.
The move comes shortly after Trump signed another executive order directing faster evaluation of certain psychedelic substances as potential treatments for medical conditions. At the signing, the president described the initiative as a significant step forward, noting that several of these therapies are already in advanced clinical trials to test their safety and effectiveness for patients.
Trump added that the push is intended to accelerate access to innovative medical research, particularly for individuals suffering from severe mental health conditions and depression, including military veterans. He said the reforms aim to reduce bureaucratic delays, improve coordination between health agencies, and speed up approval processes for promising new treatments.