Donald Trump has moved to reclassify cannabis following a months-long federal review of the drug and its current restrictions. The President’s acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana on Thursday. He said the effort was ‘delivering on President Trump’s promise’ to expand medical options for Americans.
‘This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information,’ Blanche’s statement said. The shift marks a significant step toward loosening federal barriers on marijuana. The order establishes a system for marijuana producers to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and helps legitimize the 40 medical cannabis programs within the states that have passed laws adopting the shops. Trump ordered the review in December, targeting cannabis’s Schedule I designation – a category reserved for drugs like heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. The reclassification is expected to ease limits on research and expand legal use.
