{"id":8427,"date":"2025-12-19T02:18:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T02:18:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/12\/19\/trump-orders-less-dangerous-federal-classification-for-marijuana-usa-today\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T02:18:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T02:18:44","slug":"trump-orders-less-dangerous-federal-classification-for-marijuana-usa-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/12\/19\/trump-orders-less-dangerous-federal-classification-for-marijuana-usa-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump orders less dangerous federal classification for marijuana – USA Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 8:00 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

\n

WASHINGTON \u2013 President Donald Trump<\/a>\u00a0signed an executive order Dec. 18 to federally classify marijuana as a less dangerous substance<\/a>, the biggest change for the drug since 1970 and an opportunity for the industry to operate more easily.<\/p>\n

Trump directed the government to stop classifying marijuana as a Schedule I drug, which includes the most dangerous substances such as heroin, LSD and ecstasy. The Drug Enforcement Administration describes<\/a>\u00a0Schedule I substances as having no “medical use and a high potential for abuse.”<\/p>\n

Instead, Trump ordered that marijuana be classified as a Schedule III drug, which the DEA describes as having “a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”<\/p>\n

<\/svg><\/a><\/p>\n

“Today, I’m pleased to announce that I will be signing an executive order to reschedule marijuana from a schedule one to a schedule three controlled substance with legitimate medical uses,” Trump said.<\/p>\n

He added that the order “is not the legalization \u2212 does it legalize marijuana in any way, shape or form, and no way sanctions its use as a recreational drug.”<\/p>\n

What did Trump’s order do?<\/h2>\n

Trump\u2019s order directed Attorney General Pam Bondi<\/a> to “take all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process” to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug. His order also said the administration would work with Congress to redefine hemp-derived cannabinoid products so that Americans can get access to CBD products.<\/p>\n

“This gives (rescheduling) a big push forward and sends a pretty clear signal about the likely outcome,” said David Pozen, a law professor at Columbia University<\/a> who wrote the book “The Constitution of the War on Drugs.” Pozen added: “It’s a big deal for the rescheduling debate but it’s by no means going to bring closure to our marijuana policy fights.”<\/p>\n

\"President<\/figure>\n

Marijuana businesses expect to benefit from reclassification<\/h2>\n

Trump\u2019s change doesn’t make marijuana legal at the federal level. But the reclassification could lower tax burdens for firms, accelerate research, enable standardized drug development and improve access to capital.<\/p>\n

An immediate advantage for the industry is a business-tax break for companies making Schedule III drugs, in contrast to no tax breaks for those making Schedule I drugs. But unless the Food and Drug Administration approves of marijuana for medical uses, companies will still be unable to sell their products across state lines.<\/p>\n

“The main effect of rescheduling will be a tax cut for marijuana firms,” Pozen said. “This won\u2019t authorize medical marijuana at the federal level.”<\/p>\n

Shares of cannabis firms rose in premarket trading Dec. 18 because of expectations about Trump\u2019s action. Tilray shares gained nearly 5%, SNDL rose 3%, Canopy Growth was up more than 5% and AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis was up 6.5% before the bell.<\/p>\n

Trump is considering a Medicare pilot program that would provide some seniors access to CBD, according to reports.<\/p>\n

Rescheduling and Medicare coverage would likely attract investments from financial institutions and other investors.<\/p>\n

\"President<\/figure>\n

Nearly all states regulate marijuana but it remains contentious<\/h2>\n

The federal Controlled Substances Act<\/a> lumped marijuana with the most dangerous drugs in 1970.<\/p>\n

Since then, two dozen states, three territories and the District of Columbia have allowed or regulated recreational use of marijuana, according to Reuters<\/a>. Nearly all states \u2013 45 \u2013 allow the medical or recreational use of marijuana.<\/p>\n

Nearly two-thirds of Americans supported legalization in a\u00a0Gallup survey from October<\/a>, up from 36% two decades ago.<\/p>\n

But the push to decriminalize marijuana by removing criminal penalties associated with it or to legalize it at the state level remains contentious.<\/p>\n

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has said he would sign legislation<\/a> approved this month further restricting where marijuana can be grown. Businesses have sued DeWine<\/a> over a ban on over-the-counter sales of products infused with THC, the intoxicating element in marijuana.<\/p>\n

A Florida ballot initiative in 2024 aimed to legalize marijuana for people at least 21 years old, and allow them to possess up to 3 ounces. Supporters spent hundreds of millions of dollars advocating for the measure, but Gov. Ron DeSantis strongly opposed<\/a> it. Despite support from nearly 56% of voters<\/a>, the measure fell short of the 60% majority<\/a> needed for approval.<\/p>\n

\"Ohio<\/figure>\n

Trump’s stance on marijuana contrasts with enforcement against other drugs<\/h2>\n

Former President\u00a0Joe Biden<\/a>\u00a0ordered the Department of Health and Human Services to review marijuana’s classification in 2022. The administration\u00a0in 2024 proposed a rule<\/a>\u00a0to reschedule marijuana, but it has been on hold since March.<\/p>\n

Trump has considered the change for a while. He said in August<\/a> he was “looking at reclassification” of marijuana, noting the issue has supporters and detractors.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/figure>\n

“Some people like it, some people hate it. Some people hate the whole concept of marijuana,” he said.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s stance on marijuana contrasts with his aggressive approach to drug enforcement against fentanyl and cocaine. During his second term, the Pentagon has been striking alleged drug boats<\/a> off the coast of Venezuela.<\/p>\n

But during the 2024 campaign, Trump supported a Florida ballot measure that would have legalized the drug in the Sunshine State. The measure failed.<\/p>\n

“I believe it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use,” Trump said in his statement about the Florida ballot initiative.<\/p>\n

(This story has been updated to add new information.)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 8:00 p.m. ET WASHINGTON \u2013 President Donald Trump\u00a0signed an executive order Dec. 18 to federally classify marijuana as a less dangerous substance, the biggest change for the drug since 1970 and an opportunity for the industry to operate more easily. Trump directed the government to stop classifying marijuana as a Schedule […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8427"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8427\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}