President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order that would move marijuana to a lower classification under federal drug law, according to a source familiar with the planning and a senior White House official. The shift would mark one of the most significant changes to U.S. marijuana policy in decades, easing federal restrictions without fully legalizing the drug nationwide.
Under current federal law, marijuana is classified among the most tightly restricted substances, a designation that places it in the same category as drugs considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. The planned executive order would reschedule marijuana to a less restrictive category, acknowledging its medical uses and reducing some of the legal barriers surrounding research, banking, and taxation.
What the move would change — and what it wouldn’t
Rescheduling marijuana would not legalize it at the federal level. States would still set their own laws governing recreational and medical use, and federal prohibitions on interstate commerce of marijuana would remain largely intact. However, the change could have far-reaching effects for businesses and researchers.
A lower classification could ease restrictions on scientific research, making it simpler for universities and pharmaceutical companies to study marijuana and cannabis-based medicines. It could also reduce the tax burden on state-legal marijuana businesses, many of which currently face higher federal taxes because of marijuana’s classification.
A political and economic recalibration
The expected order reflects a broader recalibration of federal drug policy amid growing public support for marijuana reform. A majority of U.S. states have legalized marijuana in some form, creating tension between state laws and federal enforcement. By easing restrictions without endorsing full legalization, the administration appears to be seeking a middle ground that aligns with shifting public opinion while stopping short of sweeping legal change.
Supporters argue the move is long overdue and could boost economic activity in states with legal cannabis markets. Critics, however, caution that rescheduling alone does not resolve the core conflict between state and federal law and leaves key questions about enforcement unanswered.
What happens next
If signed, the executive order would likely direct federal agencies to begin the formal process of reclassifying marijuana, a step that could take months to complete. Congress could still play a role by passing legislation to clarify or expand marijuana reforms, but for now, the administration’s action would represent a notable — if limited — shift in federal policy.
While the order would not end marijuana’s complex legal status in the United States, it would signal a meaningful easing of federal restrictions and set the stage for further debate over the future of cannabis policy nationwide.
