President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing federal agencies to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The shift recognizes the drug's potential medical uses while placing it alongside drugs like ketamine and codeine-laced Tylenol, which carry a moderate risk of addiction.
READ MORE: Top Leaders: Trump Reclassifies Marijuana to Improve Health
The move builds on a process begun under the Biden administration but stalled for years due to inaction. Trump emphasized that the order facilitates important research into the benefits and dangers of marijuana without legalizing recreational use nationwide. “This reclassification order will greatly facilitate medical research related to marijuana,” he said during the signing in the Oval Office, noting its “tremendously positive impact” on research into treatments for chronic diseases.
NOW – Trump signs an executive order moving marijuana from a Schedule 1 drug to a Schedule 3 drug, loosening the rules. pic.twitter.com/nZdECCYzkN
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) December 18, 2025
In my view, this decision reflects practical leadership over rigid ideology. For decades, marijuana's Schedule I designation, which combines marijuana with heroin and LSD, has hampered legitimate scientific research, despite growing evidence of therapeutic use for the relief of pain, epilepsy and other diseases. Loosening these barriers is consistent with the principles of federalism, allowing states to continue experimenting while the federal government catches up with reality. It also removes unnecessary tax burdens from medical cannabis providers, increasing economic efficiency without increased government intervention.
President Trump signed an executive order moving marijuana from Schedule I (heroin, LSD) to Schedule III (Tylenol, Ketamine).
Has medical purposes. It was right.— Red-haired Libertarian (@TRHLofficial) December 18, 2025
It reminded me of conservative commentator Michelle Malkin and her daughter. In 2017, the lifelong “drug warrior” spoke about her daughter's use of CBD oil in article titled “Keep Your Hands Off My Daughter's Marijuana.” Malkin's daughter, Veronica, suffered from a debilitating, mysterious illness that left her bedridden and suffocating, a condition that defied the “alphabet soup” of traditional FDA-approved pharmaceuticals.
I support AG Sessions on many major issues, but strongly disagree with him on marijuana policy. And I'm not a doctor either.
Just an informed conservative mom ==>https://t.co/4n608bHKTohttps://t.co/elPxd9U3nE https://t.co/FXnDI530oO— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) December 7, 2017
When neurologists suggested CBD oil, Malkin found herself caught between federal law and her child's survival. She argued that the federal government's refusal to recognize the medical benefits of marijuana was not just a scientific error, but an affront to parental rights and individual freedom.
By moving marijuana to Schedule III, the administration is effectively answering Malkin's call to “let scientists lead” by moving the drug out of the same category as heroin and into the same category as prescription drugs like Tylenol with codeine. For “freedom-loving moms” like Malkin, this shift in policy means the federal government is finally moving beyond the doctor-patient relationship and recognizing that for many families, this is a matter of medical necessity rather than cultural debate.
Still, the backlash within Republican ranks is noteworthy. Lawmakers such as Rep. Pete Sessions (TX-17) and Rep. Andy Harris (MD-01), along with the broader coalition, warned in letter President that the reclassification could send mixed messages to young people, increase drug addiction trends and indirectly benefit cartels profiting from black market demand. These fears are not unfounded.
Marijuana use among teens correlates with higher risk of mental health problems and addiction to harder drugs, study finds National Institute on Drug Abuse show consistently. Road safety data States with liberalized laws have seen an increase in drunk driving cases, straining government resources. Otherwise, the Trump administration has taken a tough stance on illegal drugs, designating major cartels as terrorist organizations and authorizing strikes on drug trafficking vessels.
This context emphasizes that the reclassification is aimed at medical supervision rather than at normalizing recreational habits. Still, conservatives should remain vigilant. Easing federal restrictions risks normalizing the use of a substance whose long-term social costs—lost productivity, family strain, emergency room visits—are often borne by taxpayers.
Ultimately, Trump's order strikes a balance: advancing science and patient care without supporting broader liberalization. It respects states' rights and evidence-based policies, but only in conjunction with strong anti-abuse and anti-trafficking measures. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle would do well to monitor the results closely, ensuring that this pragmatic adjustment does not undermine the cultural and legal barriers that protect vulnerable communities.
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