The US Department of Justice has formally downgraded cannabis to a less restrictive category, signalling a significant shift in America’s drug policy.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Thursday that marijuana-based products approved by the Food and Drug Administration or licensed under state medical cannabis programmes will be reclassified from Schedule I—a category reserved for drugs like heroin — to Schedule III, alongside medications such as codeine-based painkillers. He also initiated plans for a broader review that could lead to the reclassification of all cannabis.
The move follows a directive issued last year by Donald Trump, who instructed his administration to begin revising marijuana’s legal status to expand research and improve access for medical use.
Despite the change, cannabis remains illegal under federal law. However, a majority of US states have already legalised it for medical or recreational purposes, creating a fragmented regulatory landscape where state laws often conflict with federal restrictions.
Blanche said the decision fulfils the administration’s commitment to improving access to treatment options. He noted that the new classification would support more scientific research into cannabis, helping doctors make informed decisions and improving patient care.
As part of the process, a public hearing has been scheduled for June to consider broader changes. Once the rule is published in the Federal Register, it will take 30 days to come into effect, though legal challenges during that period could delay implementation for months or even years.
The announcement comes shortly after Trump signed an executive order aimed at expanding access to psychedelic therapies for medical use.
Cannabis has been classified as a Schedule I substance since 1970, meaning it was considered to have a high risk of abuse and no accepted medical value. Over the decades, states have increasingly relaxed these restrictions, beginning with early adopters like California, leading to inconsistent enforcement and regulatory complications for cannabis businesses, particularly around taxation and banking.
A review of marijuana’s classification was first launched in 2022 under Joe Biden, with health officials later recommending a downgrade. Although the Drug Enforcement Administration proposed hearings in 2024, the process stalled after being postponed indefinitely.
Advocates say the latest move is largely symbolic but still meaningful. Morgan Fox of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws said the change could shift policy discussions by removing cannabis from the most restrictive category.
He added that while reclassification is a step forward, campaigners will continue pushing for full federal legalisation, arguing that removing cannabis entirely from controlled substance schedules would create clearer, more consistent regulations nationwide.
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