Trump Reclassifies Marijuana to Help Veterans and the Chronically Ill [WATCH]

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order directing federal agencies to expedite the reclassification of marijuana, a move aimed at expanding medical research into the substance while stopping short of legalizing it for recreational use.

The executive order instructs the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services to move marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III.

President Donald J. Trump signs an Executive Order rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III — recognizing legitimate medical uses and expanding medical marijuana and cannabidiol research to better support patients and doctors. pic.twitter.com/7NpPaLbNTl

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 18, 2025

Schedule I is the most restrictive category under federal law and is reserved for substances deemed to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Marijuana’s placement in that category has long limited research and placed it alongside drugs such as heroin.

“This reclassification order will make it far easier to conduct marijuana-related medical research, allowing us to study benefits, potential dangers and future treatments,” Trump said during remarks in the Oval Office.

“It’s going to have a tremendously positive impact.”

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Under Schedule III, substances are considered to have a lower potential for abuse and are permitted for medical research and treatment under federal oversight.

The change is expected to remove a number of regulatory barriers that have restricted scientists’ ability to study marijuana, including requirements for special DEA approvals and reliance on limited federally authorized supply sources.

The order also allows access to hemp-derived CBD products and directs the administration to work with Congress on broader reforms related to marijuana policy.

Administration officials said the focus of the order is on research and medical applications, not recreational use.

The move represents one of the most significant changes in federal marijuana policy in more than five decades.

For years, researchers and medical professionals have argued that marijuana’s Schedule I status was outdated and prevented meaningful study of its potential medical benefits and risks.

By reclassifying the drug, the administration is formally acknowledging that cannabis may have medical value when used under appropriate conditions.

The reclassification is expected to have a substantial impact on medical marijuana research nationwide.

Schedule I restrictions have historically required researchers to navigate a lengthy approval process and work with a limited number of federally approved suppliers, slowing or halting many studies.

The shift to Schedule III is intended to streamline those processes and expand opportunities for research at universities, hospitals, and medical institutions.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the change would open the door to new approaches to pain management and treatment.

According to the administration, the policy shift could help establish marijuana as a potential alternative to opioid-based painkillers, which have been linked to widespread addiction and overdose deaths across the country.

“The facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications when carefully administered.

In some cases, this may include the use as a substitute for addictive and potentially lethal opioid painkillers,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Trump said the decision followed years of appeals from patients and families seeking relief from chronic and severe medical conditions. He said those requests played a significant role in shaping the administration’s approach.

“We have people begging for me to do this, people that are in great pain for decades,” Trump said.

“This action has been requested by American patients suffering from extreme pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, neurological problems and more—including numerous veterans with service-related injuries and older Americans who live with chronic medical problems that severely degrade their quality of life.”

While the order marks a major shift in how the federal government treats marijuana for research purposes, it does not alter federal policy on recreational use.

Recreational marijuana remains illegal under federal law, though it has been legalized in a limited number of states despite marijuana’s prior Schedule I classification.

Administration officials emphasized that the executive order is focused narrowly on medical research and patient access under controlled conditions.

Any changes related to recreational marijuana would require separate legislative or regulatory action.

The reclassification process will involve coordination between federal agencies as they update regulations and guidance.

Officials said additional details on implementation are expected as the DEA and HHS move forward with the directive.

Trump framed the order as part of a broader effort to modernize federal policy, support scientific research, and respond to patient needs while maintaining limits on non-medical use of controlled substances.