US reclassifies some marijuana products as less dangerous drug

Lead

The Trump administration has taken a significant step in reshaping US drug policy by reclassifying certain marijuana products from the most restrictive category of controlled substances to a less dangerous classification. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order on Thursday that moves products sold under state medical-marijuana licenses and those approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from Schedule I — a category reserved for drugs with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use — to Schedule III, which includes substances with moderate to low potential for dependence, such as ketamine and some codeine-containing painkillers.

The change does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law, as multiple outlets, including Al Jazeera and France 24, reported. However, it marks a notable shift in the federal government's approach to a drug that has long been classified alongside heroin and LSD.

In a statement, Blanche said the action "allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information," echoing language carried by the BBC, The Guardian, and other outlets.

Coverage Comparison

The announcement was covered by a range of international outlets, with general agreement on the core facts but some differences in emphasis. Al Jazeera and France 24 framed the move as a significant policy shift with neutral language, while the BBC and Dawn highlighted the potential benefits to patients and the cannabis industry. The Guardian, in two separate pieces, adopted a more critical tone, describing the rescheduling as "partial" and raising questions about its scope and implications. The South China Morning Post mirrored the neutral framing of France 24, focusing on the procedural aspects of the reclassification.

All sources agreed that the order applies specifically to state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved products, and that it does not constitute a broad legalization of cannabis. There was also consensus that the move is expected to ease research restrictions and provide a tax break to medical marijuana operators, as noted by France 24 and The Guardian.

The most notable divergence came from The Guardian, which reported that the rescheduling "does not affect the few cannabis-related pharmaceuticals that are already FDA-approved," a claim not mentioned in other coverage. The Guardian also highlighted the administration's citation of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, a 1961 UN treaty, as justification for the partial move.

Key Claims

• Schedule Shift: Multiple sources confirmed that the order moves certain marijuana products from Schedule I to Schedule III, placing them alongside drugs like ketamine and codeine.
• Scope of the Order: The rescheduling applies only to state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved products, not to the broader cannabis market, as reported by several outlets.
• No Legalization: The Department of Justice clarified that the change does not legalize medical or recreational marijuana under federal law.
• Research and Tax Benefits: The move is expected to ease barriers to research on cannabis's safety and efficacy, and provide a significant tax break to licensed medical marijuana businesses, according to France 24 and others.
• Upcoming Hearing: A hearing to consider broader reclassification of all marijuana is set to begin in late June, with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) overseeing the process, as reported by France 24 and The Guardian.
• Executive Order Origin: President Donald Trump directed the Justice Department in December to work on rescheduling marijuana, an executive order referenced by multiple sources.

Perspectives

Supporters of the reclassification, including Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, framed the move as a way to expand medical treatment options and improve patient care. "The Department of Justice is delivering on President Trump's promise to expand Americans' access to medical treatment options," Blanche said, as quoted by several outlets.

Industry observers and company executives expressed optimism about the potential financial benefits. Dawn reported that the move is expected to benefit companies like Canopy Growth, Tilray Brands, and Trulieve Cannabis, with US-listed shares of cannabis companies jumping between 6% and 13% on the news.

Critics, however, questioned the scope and motivations of the partial rescheduling. Cat Packer, director of drug markets and legal regulation at the Drug Policy Alliance, said in comments reported by The Guardian: "While some marijuana-related products are no longer being treated as schedule I, it's not accurate to say marijuana has been broadly rescheduled — this is partial rescheduling, at best." Packer also expressed concern that the order "appears to predetermine the scheduling outcome for future FDA-approved drugs containing marijuana without a full, evidence-based risk evaluation."

The Guardian also reported on potential social equity concerns, citing experts who argue the rescheduling may disproportionately benefit white-owned businesses while leaving communities of color, which have been disproportionately impacted by marijuana enforcement, with fewer benefits. This perspective, based on a single-source claim, has not been corroborated by other outlets in the coverage reviewed.

Historical Context

The reclassification follows a December executive order from President Trump directing the Justice Department to loosen marijuana restrictions, as reported by multiple outlets. The move marks a departure from decades of federal policy that placed marijuana in the same category as heroin, LSD, and MDMA, a classification that has been criticized by advocates who argue it has led to disproportionate rates of arrest and incarceration.

The Biden administration had previously proposed a similar reclassification, but the process stalled, and the Trump administration's order now sets a hearing for broader reclassification to begin in late June. As the BBC noted, once the rule change is published in the Federal Register, it will face a 30-day period before taking effect, during which it could be legally challenged.

While the rescheduling does not affect the sentences of those incarcerated for marijuana possession, as The Guardian noted, it represents a significant shift in the federal government's stance on a drug that has seen widespread state-level legalization in recent years. According to Al Jazeera, marijuana has "gradually seen more mainstream acceptance," despite its federal illegality.

Looking Ahead

The full implications of the reclassification remain to be seen. The upcoming DEA hearing in June will be a key forum for gathering evidence and expert opinion on whether to reclassify marijuana more broadly. As the process unfolds, the balance between federal policy, state laws, and international treaty obligations will likely remain a point of contention, as highlighted by experts quoted in The Guardian.

For the cannabis industry, the immediate effects are clear: reduced tax burdens, easier access to research, and improved prospects for securing funding. The long-term impact on patients, communities, and the broader drug policy landscape, however, will depend on the outcome of the hearings and the administration's willingness to go beyond a partial rescheduling.