By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• President Donald Trump’s administration reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana as a Schedule III drug under federal law.
• The change shifts the regulated status from Schedule I, reserved for drugs with no accepted medical use, to the less-restricted Schedule III.
• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed the order Thursday in Washington, D.C.
• The reclassification does not legalize marijuana federally but may ease research barriers and provide tax changes for licensed operators.
WASHINGTON, DC — The federal government has reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana as a Schedule III drug, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed the order that moves state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I — a category reserved for drugs without accepted medical use and high potential for abuse — to Schedule III, which includes substances with recognized medical applications and lower potential for abuse.
Officials said the reclassification is intended to align federal policy more closely with existing state medical marijuana programs and ease restrictions on medical research, but the action does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law.
The order could provide tax benefits for licensed marijuana operators and reduce regulatory barriers for researchers studying the drug’s safety and effectiveness, according to administration statements.
The Drug Enforcement Administration will continue to regulate marijuana under the new Schedule III designation as the broader legal framework and guidelines are implemented.