There is a lot about current federal law that makes no sense. The best example is that marijuana, with its proven medical uses and acceptance by many state governments, is still classified as a Schedule I drug. This puts it in the same class as some of the most harmful, addictive drugs on the planet, like heroin and ecstasy. It’s an even higher classification than cocaine, which is only a Schedule II drug.
Does anyone really believe that cannabis belongs under the same legal classification as LSD, and a more restrictive one than cocaine? It’s a joke.
But patients and medical researchers aren’t laughing—this outdated misclassification is making it harder for scientists and medical providers to help people. The states have already blazed the trail and proven how alternative cannabis therapies can make a meaningful impact for patients. It’s time the federal government catches up by rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, where it belongs. With President Trump in office, I believe we can finally make this long-overdue change happen.
Schedule III drugs are those with a lower risk of physical dependence that have real medical benefits. Codeine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone fall under this category. Rescheduling cannabis would not mean legalizing recreational use. It would just mean bringing federal regulation in line with state laws and recognizing the medical benefits of the drug. This would allow it to be used in medical research and improve therapeutic access for patients. Schedule I drugs, on the other hand, are defined by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as having “no currently accepted medical use.”
Tell that to the millions of patients who rely on medical cannabis to treat conditions like epilepsy or nausea resulting from cancer treatment.
This is a MAGA issue. Eighty-four percent of conservatives support rescheduling marijuana, and Trump promised to reschedule cannabis during his last campaign. Now it’s time for Trump to make good on that promise. Doing so would not only help patients and researchers, but boost the economy. Rescheduling would support over 440,000 existing jobs in the United States and would encourage further investment and job growth in this industry.
We need an America First drug policy in this country. That means fixing the ridiculous, outdated federal regulations around marijuana and opening the door for American research labs and medical science.
Not only will this lead to more revenue for states, it would tap the full potential of this under-studied drug, which could help reduce our nation’s reliance on pharmaceuticals.
Now is the time to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III. But we must do it the right way—not through an omnibus bill where it could be lost to legislative horse trading, and not through an executive order that can be undone with the stroke of a pen. To fix this problem permanently and apply common sense to federal drug policy will take coordination between the White House, the DEA, and the DOJ to issue a final rule rescheduling cannabis.
Now is our chance to unlock new cannabis research and treatments. Let’s get it done.
