President Trump Signs Executive Order to Reschedule Cannabis to Schedule III

The executive order the cannabis industry has been waiting for has officially received its President Donald Trump signature. Although not having the authority to reschedule cannabis, the president did instruct federal agencies to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I federally controlled substance to Schedule III.

The press briefing held today mentioned (1):

• The Order directs the Attorney General to expedite completion of the process of rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III of the Controlled Substance Act (CSA).
• The Order directs the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs to work with the Congress to allow Americans to benefit from access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products while still restricting the sale of products that pose serious health risks.
• The Order directs HHS to develop research methods and models utilizing real-world evidence to improve access to hemp-derived cannabinoid products in accordance with Federal law and to inform standards of care.

Additionally, through the order, by rescheduling cannabis it will allow for further research to be conducted on medical cannabis for various health conditions and hemp-derived cannabinoid products (1,2).

During the press briefing, President Trump said, “This reclassification order will make it far easier to conduct marijuana related medical research, allowing us to study benefits, potential dangers and future treatments. It's going to have a tremendously positive impact.”

President Trump’s executive order states (2), “It is the policy of my Administration to increase medical marijuana and CBD research to better inform patients and doctors. It is critical to close the gap between current medical marijuana and CBD use and medical knowledge of risks and benefits, including for specific populations and conditions. Research methods and models should include real-world evidence and should facilitate affordable access in order to rapidly assess the health outcomes of medical marijuana and legal CBD products while focusing on long-term health effects in vulnerable populations like adolescents and young adults.”

As the formal rule is updated in the Federal Registrar, interested parties will be able “to challenge the order legally, which could further delay the process,” but if no legal challenge is provided, the rule change could take effect within 30 days (3).

In August 2023, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), one of the top government agencies, recommended that cannabis be rescheduled from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug (4).

HHS’s scheduling recommendation about cannabis was sent over to the DEA due to President Joe Biden’s directive to HHS (4), a spokesperson from the DEA reported.

"As part of this process, HHS conducted a scientific and medical evaluation for consideration by DEA. DEA has the final authority to schedule or reschedule a drug under the Controlled Substances Act. DEA will now initiate its review," a DEA spokesperson said (4).

The Cannabis Industry Speaks Out

“For decades, cannabinoid therapies have existed in a regulatory gray area while millions of Americans rely on them to manage pain, sleep issues, anxiety, and inflammation. The Trump administration's decision to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III is an acknowledgement of the therapeutic potential of the plant that Realm of Caring and other organizations have worked so consistently to demonstrate. This move will open a door that has been closed for far too long by making it possible to pave a clear, science-driven regulatory pathway that establishes federal standards for manufacturing, testing, labeling, and consumer safety; guardrails that have never existed but are desperately needed,” Sasha Kalcheff-Korn, executive director of Realm of Caring (RoC) commented in an emailed statement. “It will help facilitate more cannabis research, something Realm of Caring has been spearheading with limited support since our foundation. And finally, this designation gets us closer to matching the reality of how people are using cannabis to improve their lives. Today represents a significant milestone for our industry and our organization's mission, and we look forward to continuing our role in connecting patients with guidance and clarity on the benefits of cannabinoid therapies.”

In a published statement, the US Hemp Roundtable expressed (5), “The U.S. hemp industry is deeply grateful to President Trump for issuing his strong pro-hemp Executive Order today. While the headlines of the announcement will focus on marijuana rescheduling – which is a positive in itself, for any cannabis reform benefits the entire plant – we are especially pleased to see the provisions that direct the White House staff and urge Congress to ensure access to hemp-derived, full-spectrum CBD products, a lifeblood of the industry. We are also thrilled to see the development of a model that would allow a number of Medicare beneficiaries to receive CBD under doctor recommendation at no cost.

We consider this Executive Order to be a direct rebuke to the hemp ban that was malignly attached to legislation that reopened government. This also gives strong impetus to efforts to extend the ban’s moratorium an additional 18 months to allow proper time for Congress and the Trump Administration to develop the regulatory framework that ensures the safe provision of hemp products while cracking down on the bad actors peddling the unsafe products that the Executive Order calls out.

We look forward to working with the President, his staff, HHS, and Congress in the coming months to ensure the bipartisan vision of a safe, legal, and regulated hemp extract industry.”

NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said (6), “The Administration’s order calling to remove the cannabis plant from its Schedule I classification validates the experiences of tens of millions of Americans, as well as those of tens of thousands of physicians, who have long recognized that cannabis possesses legitimate medical utility. It wasn’t long ago that federal officials were threatening to seize doctors’ medical licenses just for discussing medical cannabis with their patients. This directive certainly marks a long overdue change in direction.”

The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) issued a statement on the executive order saying (7), “The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) welcomes President Trump’s decision to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III substance. Medical professionals, patients, and millions of Americans have long understood that cannabis has accepted medical use and does not belong in the same category as the most dangerous controlled substances. By taking this step, the Administration is recognizing the realities of today’s regulated markets and the work states have done to responsibly oversee them.

NCIA was honored to participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s public hearings on rescheduling earlier this year, where we emphasized the importance of supporting state-licensed cannabis programs and the small businesses that form the backbone of this industry which employs hundreds of thousands of workers and contributes billions of dollars to the economy. Moving cannabis to Schedule III will finally lift the crushing burden of §280E, allowing operators to reinvest in their employees, strengthen compliance, and allow them to continue delivering safe, regulated products to consumers. This change acknowledges something that researchers, advocates, and patients have known for years: that the cannabis plant has medicinal value.

This is meaningful progress, but it cannot be the final word. NCIA urges lawmakers to build on today’s decision by establishing a framework that respects states’ rights, supports responsible operators, and provides clear federal enforcement guidelines in order to provide certainty to the thousands of businesses operating openly and in compliance with state law. NCIA will continue working to ensure that this industry can thrive under policies that are fair, consistent, and reflective of modern realities.”

References

1. Fact sheet: President Donald J. Trump is increasing medical marijuana and Cannabidiol Research https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/12/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-is-increasing-medical-marijuana-and-cannabidiol-research/ (accessed Dec 18, 2025).
2. Increasing medical marijuana and Cannabidiol Research https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/increasing-medical-marijuana-and-cannabidiol-research/ (accessed Dec 18, 2025).
3. Colli, M. Cannabis industry braces for potential Trump Executive Order on rescheduling https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/cannabis-industry-braces-for-potential-trump-executive-order-on-rescheduling (accessed Dec 18, 2025).
4. Colli, M.; McEvoy, E. Shifting tides: US department of health and human services recommends cannabis rescheduling from schedule I to schedule III https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/shifting-tides-us-department-of-health-and-human-services-recommends-cannabis-rescheduling-from-schedule-i-to-schedule-iii (accessed Dec 12, 2025).
5. U.S. Hemp Roundtable Statement on president Trump’s executive order https://hempsupporter.com/news/u-s-hemp-roundtable-statement-on-president-trumps-executive-order/ (accessed Dec 18, 2025).
6. Norml. Trump takes executive action to federally reschedule marijuana https://norml.org/blog/2025/12/18/president-trump-takes-executive-action-to-federally-reschedule-marijuana/ (accessed Dec 18, 2025).
7. NCIA’s statement on decision to reclassify cannabis as a schedule III substance | https://thecannabisindustry.org/ncias-statement-on-decision-to-reclassify-cannabis-as-a-schedule-iii-substance/ (accessed Dec 18, 2025).