President Donald Trump's administration is moving to reclassify state-licensed marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche officially announced the significant policy shift on Thursday.
Blanche signed an order to reclassify FDA-approved and state-licensed marijuana under federal law. The move drops the drug from Schedule I, a category reserved for narcotics like heroin, to the less strict Schedule III.
"The Department of Justice is delivering on President Trump’s promise to expand Americans’ access to medical treatment options," Blanche said in a statement. He emphasized the administration's commitment to prioritizing patient care.
The federal shift aims to clear bureaucratic hurdles for medical professionals. "This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information," Blanche stated.
The Acting Attorney General noted that the current order does not yet apply to marijuana generally. However, Blanche confirmed the order initiates "a new, expedited hearing with set deadlines, to fully reschedule marijuana."