Trump Orders Marijuana Reclassified as Less Dangerous Drug

Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug and pave the way for more medical research into the use of marijuana products.

The long-awaited move would remove marijuana from the category of most dangerous narcotics along with heroin and LSD, but does not legalize its use in the United States.

But Trump said this would make it better available for “legitimate medical uses,” such as for cancer and chronic pain patients, although he “in no way endorses its use as a recreational drug.”

“There are people begging me to do this. There are people in great pain,” Trump said in the Oval Office.

“This reclassification order will make it much easier to conduct marijuana-related medical research and allow us to study the benefits, potential dangers and future treatments. It will have an extremely positive impact.”

Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I substance – in the same league as drugs such as heroin. The U.S. government considers the unauthorized use of these drugs for medical treatment to have a high potential for abuse.

Schedule III substances, which include ketamine and anabolic steroids, are thought to have medical value and less potential for abuse.

Dozens of U.S. states already have legal medical marijuana programs, and many others, including California, have approved recreational use.

But Trump’s move is aimed at lowering barriers to research because allowing clinical trials on Schedule I substances can require many layers of approval.

This could also be a huge tax increase for companies that legally grow and sell marijuana.

‘Common sense’

A senior US official told reporters it was a “common sense decision”.

Surrounded by white-coated medical professionals for Thursday’s announcement, Trump added that the order “is not legalization” of marijuana.

The total teetotal 79-year-old added: “I always told my kids don’t take drugs, don’t drink, don’t smoke and stay away from drugs.”

Marijuana companies were trading higher on the New York Stock Exchange following the announcement; but they were already on the rise this week in anticipation of the news.

As of 1910 GMT, Aurora Cannabis was up 8.62 percent, Canopy Growth was up 10.94 percent and Tilray was up 6.40 percent. Canopy Growth’s share price rose nearly 90 percent in just one week.

U.S. presidents cannot unilaterally reclassify a drug, but Republican Trump’s order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to expedite the process.

Democrat Joe Biden’s administration had previously pursued redistricting, but the effort stalled and was not completed until Trump took office in early 2025.

In the United States, there are state-level regulations regarding the commercial distribution, recreational possession, and personal cultivation of marijuana.

Small amounts are currently legal for recreational use in 24 states as well as the capital, Washington.