Trump expected to sign order reclassifying marijuana to Schedule III drug

Published December 16, 2025 11:03pm ET



President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug on Thursday, a move set to have major effects on the availability of the drug.

Trump is slated to sign an executive order reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I drug, classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” down to a Schedule III drug, defined by the agency as having “a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence,” a senior White House official and source familiar with the matter told CNN. The move would have wide-ranging effects, stopping short of legalizing the drug federally but allowing easier access and decreased restrictions.

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