The U.S. government has moved to treat cannabis as less dangerous, marking one of the most significant changes to federal drug policy in decades. The decision lowers restrictions on certain marijuana products and revives a broader debate over how the drug should be regulated nationwide.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said cannabis products approved by the Food and Drug Administration or permitted under state medical programs will be reclassified under a less restrictive category. The move shifts them away from Schedule I, a classification reserved for substances considered highly risky and without accepted medical use.
Research and treatment at the center
Officials say the change is intended to unlock research and improve patient care. Under previous rules, strict controls limited scientific studies and slowed the development of cannabis-based treatments.
Blanche said the policy follows direction from Donald Trump, who last year called for a review of marijuana laws. He said easing restrictions would allow researchers to better examine the drug’s safety and effectiveness, giving doctors more reliable information.
Health experts say the shift could lead to clearer clinical guidance. It may also encourage pharmaceutical development linked to cannabis compounds.
Legal process may delay impact
The Justice Department plans to hold a formal hearing in June as part of a rule-making process that could expand the change further. Any proposal must be published in the Federal Register and pass a mandatory waiting period before taking effect.
During that time, legal challenges are expected. Court action could delay implementation, potentially slowing the impact of the policy for months or longer.
State laws outpace federal rules
While federal law still bans marijuana, state-level policies have evolved quickly. Most states now permit medical use, and many allow recreational sales.
BREAKING: Trump administration reclassifies medical marijuana under federal law.
Acting AG Todd Blanche signed the order shifting it from SCHEDULE I, a category of drugs with no medical use and high potential for abuse, to the much less strictly regulated SCHEDULE III.
While… pic.twitter.com/RdwcKQVw3r
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 23, 2026
This gap has created ongoing complications. Cannabis businesses operate legally under state systems but remain subject to federal financial and tax restrictions. Analysts say the new classification could ease some of those pressures, though it does not fully resolve them.
Long-standing policy under review
Cannabis has remained in the most restrictive category since 1970 under the Controlled Substances Act. That status has shaped enforcement and limited research for decades.
A federal review began under Joe Biden in 2022.
The US Department of Health and Human Services later recommended easing restrictions, while the Drug Enforcement Administration initiated—but did not complete—a hearing process.
Advocates see opening, not resolution
Reform groups say the latest move could shift the policy conversation. Morgan Fox of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws described the change as an important step but not a final solution.
He said removing cannabis from the strictest category could allow lawmakers to consider broader reforms more openly. However, advocacy groups continue to push for full federal legalization and clearer national rules.
Next phase remains uncertain
The reclassification marks progress, but it does not settle the issue. The outcome now depends on regulatory decisions, court challenges, and political support. The upcoming review process will determine whether the United States moves toward wider reform or remains divided between state and federal cannabis laws.
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