Trump expands access to marijuana – the biggest change in US drug policy in decades

A person shows a cannabis product — caption, Recreational use of cannabis remains prohibited at the federal level, but new regulations are allowing access.

- Author, Bernd Debusmann Jr.
- Author title, BBCNews
December 18, 2025
Reading time: 4 minutes

President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will expand access to cannabis, a long-awaited measure that will represent the most significant change in U.S. drug policy in decades.

The order directs the U.S. Attorney General to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I narcotic to a Schedule III drug, placing it in the same category as Tylenol with codeine.

Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level. However, reclassifying it as a Schedule III narcotic would allow for more extensive research into its potential benefits.

Several Republican lawmakers opposed the measure, arguing that it could normalize cannabis use.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration states that Schedule III narcotics, which include ketamine and anabolic steroids, have only “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”

The new classification also has tax implications for state-licensed cannabis dispensaries, as current regulations prohibit them from claiming certain tax deductions when selling Schedule I products.

Access to CBD

Trump and guests display a signed cannabis order in the Oval Office — caption, Some Republican lawmakers reject the change announced by Trump in the White House.

In addition to reclassifying cannabis, Trump has directed White House officials to work with Congress to allow some Americans access to cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD.

Under a new program announced as part of the order, some Medicaid health care program beneficiaries will have free access to CBD upon a doctor’s recommendation.

Health authorities have also been tasked with developing “methods and models” to study the actual health benefits and risks of CBD.

A senior government official said the order was a “common sense measure that will enable better understanding and study” of cannabis and CBD.

In recent years, most U.S. states have approved cannabis for some medical purposes, and nearly half (24) have legalized recreational use. However, cannabis has been a Schedule I drug since 1971, meaning it has no recognized medical use and has a high potential for abuse.

The previous administration of Joe Biden proposed a similar reclassification, and in April 2024 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposed a regulation change, but it was hampered by administrative and legal problems.

Trump has long expressed a desire to change U.S. drug policy regarding cannabis.

“I think it’s time to end the endless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use,” he wrote in Truth Social last year during his presidential campaign.

“We also need to apply smart regulations while giving adults access to safe and tested products,” he said.

opposition

The reclassification order faced some opposition from Republican lawmakers.

On Wednesday, a group of 22 Republican senators sent an open letter to the president arguing that marijuana use “will not reindustrialize the United States.”

The senators cited ongoing concerns about the health effects of cannabis, as well as research that suggests cannabis may be linked to “impaired judgment” and “lack of concentration.”

“Given the documented dangers of marijuana, encouraging the growth of the marijuana industry is antithetical to growing our economy and promoting healthy lifestyles for Americans.”

In another letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi in August, nine Republican representatives argued that there was “insufficient data and scientific evidence” to support the change.

“While marijuana is different from heroin, it still carries the potential for abuse and has no scientifically proven medical value,” the letter said. “Reclassifying marijuana would therefore not only be factually incorrect, but would also mean teaching our children that marijuana is safe. That couldn’t be further from the truth.”

More broadly, polls show that a majority of Americans support efforts to legalize marijuana.

A Gallup poll released in November found that 64% of Americans think it should be legalized, although support fell slightly from previous years due to a 13 percent decline among Republicans.