By Sam Barron | Thursday, 11 December 2025 10:19 PM EST
President Donald Trump is expected to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana use early next year. Currently classified as a Schedule I drug—carved in the same category as heroin and LSD—marijuana has no accepted medical use under federal law.
Schedule I drugs are defined by the U.S. government as substances that have no recognized medical value, while cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl fall under Schedule II.
Trump’s proposed reclassification would position marijuana as a less dangerous substance, easing regulatory burdens and facilitating research for cannabis companies while offering tax incentives.
“We’re looking at reclassification,” Trump stated earlier this year. “We’ll make a determination over the next few weeks, and that determination hopefully will be the right one. It’s a very complicated subject.”
In September, Trump posted on Truth Social advocating for Medicare coverage of CBD products. A White House official confirmed Thursday that no final decision has been made regarding federal reclassification.
The Biden administration previously announced plans to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III drug—similar to steroids and acetaminophen with codeine—but never implemented the change.
Nearly 40 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical use, while nearly three dozen states and D.C. have made it fully legal.
Trump’s move would not make marijuana federally legal for recreational purposes.
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
