Trump DOJ Reclassifies Cannabis: Less Restrictive Schedule III

Washington, D.C., April 21, 2026 — The Trump administration has reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana under federal drug rules, shifting it from Schedule I to Schedule III, officials said. The change was carried out on Thursday by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and alters how federally regulated medical cannabis is treated in the United States.

Under the prior classification, medical marijuana sat in Schedule I, a category described as covering substances with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, with heroin cited as an example. The new placement in Schedule III puts state-licensed medical cannabis into a group described as having a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.

Officials said the move changes the federal regulatory status of medical cannabis but does not make marijuana legal at the federal level.

The administration said the reclassification provides meaningful regulatory and financial relief for state-licensed medical marijuana operations. A central practical effect is tax treatment: businesses operating under state medical programs will be able to deduct business expenses on federal taxes for the first time, according to the announcement. Officials said the change could translate into significant financial benefits for these operators.

The shift applies to state-licensed medical marijuana businesses operating across 40 U.S. states, the administration said. By changing the federal scheduling category, the action is expected to reduce friction between state medical programs and federal rules in areas tied to compliance and costs, while leaving broader federal legalization unchanged.

Officials also said the new classification is intended to make scientific work easier by lowering barriers for researchers seeking to study medical cannabis. The administration said scientists will face fewer obstacles when trying to obtain state-licensed marijuana products for research focused on safety and efficacy.

The reclassification follows a directive from President Trump issued in December to accelerate the process of changing marijuana’s federal scheduling. Officials said the step aligns with the administration’s stated objective of widening access to medical treatment options.

Separately, the Department of Justice has begun a broader reclassification process, officials said, and a hearing is scheduled for late June. The department’s timeline indicates that additional adjustments to federal marijuana policy remain under consideration, though no further outcomes were specified in the announcement.