Story perspectives

Trump Signs Order to Reclassify Marijuana, Easing Research

12/24/2025

Center

Trump Reclassifies Marijuana

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on December 18, 2025, to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.
The reclassification aims to ease research restrictions and provide tax benefits for cannabis businesses.
The policy does not legalize marijuana federally, but it acknowledges potential medical uses and allows better access to CBD products.
It could lower tax burdens and improve financial services for cannabis companies that have faced challenges under the current tax code.
Trump emphasized that recreational use remains illegal, limiting broader legalization efforts.

Left

Trump Reclassifies Cannabis

U.S. President Donald Trump issued an order reclassifying cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, aiming to facilitate research and prompting Tennessee lawmakers to pursue legislation.
Democratic Sen. London Lamar and Republican Rep. Jeremy Faison back reforms for medical use and decriminalization, arguing laws are outdated.
Lamar emphasized medical cannabis research as an alternative to opioids.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally resists changing Tennessee's marijuana scheduling due to safety concerns.

History

Historical Context

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970, signed by President Nixon, classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug, severely limiting its medical use and research. By the 1990s, this led to over 600,000 annual marijuana-related arrests. Trump's 2025 executive order to reclassify cannabis to Schedule III reflects ongoing debates about its medical potential, influencing legislative efforts in states like Tennessee.

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Trump Reclassifies Marijuana

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on December 18, 2025, to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.
The reclassification aims to ease research restrictions and provide tax benefits for cannabis businesses.
The policy does not legalize marijuana federally, but it acknowledges potential medical uses and allows better access to CBD products.
It could lower tax burdens and improve financial services for cannabis companies that have faced challenges under the current tax code.
Trump emphasized that recreational use remains illegal, limiting broader legalization efforts.

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