White House Reclassifies Cannabis as Schedule III Substance, Enabling FDA Research on Medical Uses

The U.S. Justice Department reclassified cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance on April 23, 2026, in Washington, D.C., placing FDA-approved and state-licensed medical marijuana products under the new classification. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the move fulfills President Donald Trump’s executive order to expand medical treatment options and enables increased research on cannabis safety and efficacy.

The reclassification, effective immediately, places FDA-approved marijuana products and state-licensed medical marijuana under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, according to an order signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on April 23, 2026. This change fulfills an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on December 18, 2025, which directed the Department of Justice to expedite the rescheduling process and expand medical treatment options involving cannabis.

The FDA identified credible evidence supporting marijuana’s use in treating pain, anorexia related to medical conditions, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, records show.

Acting Attorney General Blanche stated that the Department of Justice is delivering on President Trump’s promise to expand Americans’ access to medical treatment options. Blanche added that the rescheduling will facilitate research on the safety and efficacy of cannabis, providing better care and reliable information for medical professionals. The order also recognizes state-regulated medical marijuana programs while maintaining federal oversight, officials said.

The reclassification follows a scientific review conducted in August 2023 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Their findings concluded that cannabis has accepted medical use and a lower potential for abuse compared to Schedule I and II substances. The National Institute on Drug Abuse concurred with the FDA’s recommendation to move cannabis to Schedule III.

Schedule III substances are defined as drugs with a lower potential for abuse than Schedule I or II drugs, accepted medical use, and moderate or low physical dependence, according to federal guidelines. By contrast, Schedule I drugs are considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, with use deemed unsafe even under medical supervision.

The reclassification is expected to ease restrictions on cannabis research and expand access to FDA-approved therapies and state-licensed medical marijuana programs. Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) spokesperson Violet Cavendish described the move as a historic step toward expanding medical research opportunities. MPP also expressed hope that the action would encourage states to ensure access to safe cannabinoids and advocate for fairer federal tax treatment of the cannabis industry.

University of Michigan professor Erin Bonar noted that the rescheduling will make it easier for researchers to study cannabis under the Trump administration’s policies. The change also enables tax deductions for research expenses related to cannabis, which were previously unavailable for Schedule I substances.

Procedural updates accompanying the order include an expedited administrative hearing for a full rulemaking process to reschedule marijuana more broadly. The Department of Justice had issued a proposed rule in May 2024 to move marijuana to Schedule III, which received nearly 43,000 public comments. The Attorney General has been directed to complete the rulemaking process under 21 U.S.C. 811 in an expeditious manner, officials confirmed.

This rescheduling aligns federal regulations with state medical marijuana programs and FDA-approved products without fully descheduling cannabis. While the change facilitates medical research and patient access, it does not alter criminal laws related to non-medical cannabis use, sources said. The Justice Department is acting under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs to maintain compliance with international drug control treaties while recognizing state regulations.

The reclassification follows a series of developments beginning with the Biden administration’s 2022 directive for scientific evaluation of cannabis, leading to the HHS and FDA’s 2023 review. President Trump’s December 2025 executive order accelerated the process, culminating in the Justice Department’s April 2026 order. The department continues to advance the regulatory framework to accommodate expanded medical research and treatment options involving cannabis.