President Trump Signs Executive Order to Reclassify Marijuana

Marijuana goes from Schedule I to Schedule III.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to amend marijuana's classification as a Schedule I federally controlled substance without accepted medical value. 

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Schedule 1 drugs have no "medical use and a high potential for abuse." Examples of Schedule I drugs include heroin, LSD and ecstasy.

Schedule 3 drugs are controlled substances, but these types of drugs are subject to various rules that allow for some medical uses. Examples include ketamine, anabolic steroids and some acetaminophen-codeine combinations.

The reclassification of marijuana does not make the drug completely legal. However, it does provide that marijuana can be lawfully prescribed as medication.

Marijuana has been classified as a Schedule 1 drug since the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita issued the follwoing statement: 

Since before President Trump took office, many of us—the Attorneys General of Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Wyoming—have argued against the rescheduling of marijuana as a Schedule I drug. See July 2024 Comment of Nebraska and 10 Other States. We all believe the science surrounding marijuana—which has become only more clear in recent weeks—properly establishes it as a Schedule I drug, and we have seen firsthand the harm the drug has caused in our communities. The negative impacts of expanded marijuana use, especially on children and adolescents, are worrisome. And the public policy challenges, such as the exponential increase in difficult-to-combat driving under the influence, are both significant and serious. We have conveyed our concerns to the Administration, and we are grateful for the Administration’s good faith consideration of our views.

Because of our long-held views, we are concerned with the issuance of this Executive Order, which directs the Attorney General to “take all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process related to rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III.” We will evaluate the order closely to determine how we can best continue to engage, protect the public health, and ensure the safety of our citizens.