• Trump signs an executive order to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.
• This shift allows easier access for medical research and may affect state cannabis dispensaries' tax burdens.
• Despite reclassification, marijuana remains illegal under federal law.
• The move follows broader trends toward state legalization and increased public support for marijuana.
• Opposition exists among some Republican lawmakers, raising concerns about the implications of reclassification.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that reclassifies marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, a significant shift in U.S. drug policy aimed at facilitating medical research. This reclassification aligns cannabis with substances like ketamine and some anabolic steroids. While this change will allow for more extensive research into marijuana's medicinal benefits, marijuana remains illegal federally, thereby maintaining substantial restrictions on its use, according to BBC and Reuters.

The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to expedite the reclassification process through the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), enabling reduced barriers for scientific studies surrounding marijuana's medical applications. Trump noted that “we have people begging for me to do this” and emphasized the need for more research, hinting at a broader acceptance of marijuana's potential benefits for managing chronic pain and other health issues, as reported by SFGate and ABC News.

Polling data indicates growing public support for marijuana legalization, which has increased dramatically from 36% in 2005 to 68% in 2024. This change in federal policy mirrors a trend where many states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use, creating a patchwork of regulations across the country, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

However, the executive order has encountered resistance from some Republican lawmakers who urge maintaining the existing Schedule I classification, citing concerns about the health impacts of marijuana use. These lawmakers argue that easing restrictions could contradict efforts to promote public safety and health standards, emphasizing that "the only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors," as highlighted by SFGate and ABC News.