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US Moves Medical Cannabis to Schedule III, Recreational Still Illegal

5/10/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. Acting Attorney General Blanche signed an order on April 23 moving FDA-approved and state-licensed medical cannabis products from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.
The Department of Justice said the limited rescheduling applies only to those products and does not legalize recreational marijuana.
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Sara Carter Bailey told Newsmax that the Schedule III designation remains illegal except for doctors, research and medicinal use.
Heather Trela of the Rockefeller Institute of Government said users who follow state medical rules no longer break federal law under the new schedule, but warned that federal prosecution could still target recreational users, especially on federal property.
Smart Approaches to Marijuana and the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Alliance filed a petition on May 4 to block the rescheduling, arguing the administration exceeded its authority and violated rulemaking requirements.

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Story summary

U.S. Acting Attorney General Blanche signed an order on April 23 moving FDA-approved and state-licensed medical cannabis products from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.
The Department of Justice said the limited rescheduling applies only to those products and does not legalize recreational marijuana.
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Sara Carter Bailey told Newsmax that the Schedule III designation remains illegal except for doctors, research and medicinal use.
Heather Trela of the Rockefeller Institute of Government said users who follow state medical rules no longer break federal law under the new schedule, but warned that federal prosecution could still target recreational users, especially on federal property.
Smart Approaches to Marijuana and the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Alliance filed a petition on May 4 to block the rescheduling, arguing the administration exceeded its authority and violated rulemaking requirements.