Washington, Dec 19: US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order directing the federal government to reclassify marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act, a move aimed at expanding medical research and improving access for patients suffering from severe and chronic illnesses.
Under the order, marijuana will be moved from Schedule I the most restrictive category of controlled substances to Schedule III, a classification reserved for drugs recognised to have medical value but subject to federal regulation. Trump described the decision as a response to long-standing appeals from patients, veterans and medical professionals.
Calling it “a big day for many reasons,” Trump said the reclassification would ease barriers to research and treatment. “For decades, this action has been requested by American patients suffering from extreme pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, neurological problems and more,” he said at a White House event before signing the order.
Trump stressed that the decision does not legalise recreational marijuana. “This order does not legalise marijuana in any way, shape or form,” he said, warning that misuse of powerful controlled substances remains dangerous.
The President said moving marijuana to Schedule III would allow federally sanctioned research into its medical benefits and risks, including its potential role as an alternative to opioid painkillers. “This reclassification order will make it far easier to conduct marijuana related medical research,” he said.
Several cabinet members and health officials attended the signing, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, along with senior researchers from the National Institutes of Health, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Duke University.
Kennedy said the move would break a long-standing scientific deadlock. “This will finally allow us to study this issue and answer these questions for the American people,” he said, noting that previous administrations had promised similar action without follow-through.
Oz said the reclassification could have practical benefits for seniors and veterans, adding that Medicare may begin covering certain hemp derived cannabidiol products as early as next year if recommended by physicians.
Medical researchers welcomed the decision, saying it could accelerate large-scale clinical trials. Dr. Ilana Braun of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute said the change would advance research into managing cancer-related pain, anxiety and treatment side effects. Duke University professor David Jonathan Casarett said it would broaden participation in cannabis research across institutions.
Veterans’ groups also expressed support. Dan K. Wiley, national commander of the American Legion, said veterans disproportionately suffer from conditions such as PTSD and chronic pain and could benefit from expanded research into cannabis-based treatments.
Addressing concerns that the move could encourage youth drug use, Trump said the policy was driven by public demand and medical necessity, not by efforts to legalise recreational marijuana. He cited polling showing broad public support and reiterated that the focus remains on research.
The executive order comes amid an ongoing national debate over cannabis policy. While more than 40 US states and territories allow some form of medical marijuana, federal law has long classified the drug as having no accepted medical use. The reclassification to Schedule III could significantly reshape how federal agencies, universities and pharmaceutical companies study cannabis and related compounds.