US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to reclassify marijuana under US drug laws, a decision aimed at expanding medical research and improving access for patients with serious and chronic illnesses.
The order initiates the process of shifting marijuana from Schedule I, the most restrictive category under the Controlled Substances Act, to Schedule III. Substances in Schedule I are deemed to have no accepted medical use, a classification that has long limited federally approved research.
Trump described the decision as long overdue, saying patients, veterans and medical professionals had appealed for years for such a change. He said the reclassification would remove barriers that have slowed scientific studies into cannabis-based treatments.
The President stressed that the order does not legalise recreational marijuana. He said misuse of controlled substances remained a serious concern and that the policy change was designed strictly to support medical and scientific inquiry.
According to Trump, easing federal restrictions would allow researchers to better assess marijuana’s benefits and risks, including its potential role as an alternative to opioid painkillers.
Support from Health Officials
Several senior health officials attended the signing ceremony, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz.
Kennedy said the decision could resolve what he called a long-standing scientific deadlock, noting that earlier administrations had promised reform but failed to act.
Oz said the change could have tangible benefits for older Americans and veterans, adding that Medicare may begin covering certain doctor-recommended, hemp-derived cannabidiol products as early as next year.
Medical researchers welcomed the move, saying it would accelerate studies into managing pain, anxiety and treatment-related side effects, particularly for cancer patients.
Experts also said the change would enable more universities and institutions to conduct large-scale clinical trials.
Veterans’ groups expressed support, highlighting high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain among former service members. They said the reclassification could open the door to new treatment options if research confirms effectiveness.
The executive order comes amid an ongoing national debate on cannabis policy.
While more than 40 US states and territories permit some form of medical marijuana, federal law has continued to impose strict controls.
By moving marijuana to Schedule III, the administration may significantly reshape how federal agencies, researchers and pharmaceutical companies study cannabis and related compounds.
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