President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday, December 18, to reclassify marijuana into a lower drug classification. Previously, marijuana had been considered a Schedule I narcotic, in such company as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. Schedule I drugs are considered to have high abuse potential and no medical use in the US.
Trump’s order begins the process of rescheduling marijuana as a Schedule III drug, meaning it has a moderate to low potential for abuse and that it does have some accepted medical uses, but that it still carries a risk of moderate or high psychological dependence if misused. Other Schedule III narcotics include ketamine, anabolic steroids, and some combination pain relievers.
A full reclassification (descheduling entirely or legalizing fully) that ends federal prohibition will likely require Congress to pass legislation. But this reclassification to Schedule III does allow the FDA to study its medical uses, which might eventually lead to such legislation.
“This is really something having to do with common sense,” President Trump said from the Oval Office before signing the order Thursday. The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to conclude the formal rescheduling process, which has been going on for more than a year.
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