US drug policy shift? Trump administration considers easing marijuana classification — Know what it means

The US government may be on the cusp of a significant shift in its decades-old drug policy, with President Donald Trump signalling that his administration is actively considering reclassifying marijuana under federal law. The move, if carried through, could loosen long-standing restrictions on research and offer a measure of relief to the rapidly growing cannabis industry, even as it stops short of full federal legalisation.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the issue was under serious review, citing the limitations current laws place on scientific study and innovation. His comments come amid reports that the White House is preparing to revive a reclassification process first initiated under the previous administration.

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“We are considering that,” Trump said when asked about easing marijuana’s classification. “A lot of people want to see it because reclassification allows tremendous amounts of research that simply can’t be done right now. We are looking at that very strongly.”

Marijuana has been listed as a Schedule I drug since 1971, placing it in the same category as heroin and LSD – substances deemed to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. This status has long been criticised by scientists, doctors and industry leaders as outdated and overly restrictive.

Under the proposal being discussed, marijuana would be moved to Schedule III, a category that includes drugs such as ketamine, anabolic steroids and certain codeine-based medicines. Such a change would not legalise cannabis at the federal level, but it would ease regulatory hurdles for research, reduce tax burdens on cannabis businesses and soften enforcement norms.

Importantly, penalties related to possession and use would still remain in place, and states would continue to set their own laws governing marijuana access.

The push to reclassify marijuana was first set in motion in 2024 under former President Joe Biden, whose administration directed federal health agencies to review the drug’s status. However, the process stalled before any final decision was reached.

Trump had also voiced support for rescheduling during his election campaign, promising clarity “within weeks” earlier this year – a timeline that passed without action. His latest remarks suggest the issue is back on the table, though no formal executive order has yet been signed. Senator Ron Wyden accused Trump of overstating the impact of the move. “He has not decriminalised cannabis or expunged the records of Black and Latino Americans imprisoned for minor drug offences,” Wyden said in a post on X. “This is about optics, not reform.”