Trump Reclassifies State-Licensed Medical Cannabis, but It’s Not Legal Just Yet
Why this matters: health reporting relevant to everyday decisions and well-being.
Flowers, also known as buds, grow at the top of a mature marijuana plant on a farm owned and operated by Qualla Enterprises, LLC in Cherokee, NC. Image credit: Charlotte Observer/Getty Images. An executive order signed by the Trump administration reclassifies medical cannabis as a less dangerous drug. Although this does not legalize cannabis under federal law, it marks a significant shift in policy. The change will provide significant tax breaks for businesses that sell cannabis and ease barriers for researchers who possess the drug in order to study it. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order on April 23 to reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug. This major shift in policy does not legalize cannabis for recreational or medical use under federal law. However, reclassifying cannabis as a Schedule III drug changes how it’s regulated. For instance, licensed medical cannabis businesses will receive tax breaks. Researchers studying the drug’s effects will run into fewer roadblocks. The move aligns with advocates who’ve long said the substance shouldn’t be held in the same regard as drugs like heroin by the federal government. Trump told the press that he had received several phone calls pleading for restrictions to be lifted. In December, he told his administration to move quickly on reclassifying cannabis. “The Department of Justice is delivering on President Trump’s promise to expand Americans’ access to medical treatment options,” Blanche said in a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). “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.” Reclassification of marijuana doesn’t mean legalization The move to reclassify marijuana focuses on medical cannabis and products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Trump administration has scheduled