Trump Considers Reclassifying Marijuana

Donald Trump confirmed his administration is exploring a reclassification of marijuana, a move that could reshape federal policy on the drug.

Speaking at a press conference earlier this year, Trump revealed that the administration is weighing a lower classification for marijuana, which is currently deemed highly dangerous under federal law.

“We’re looking at reclassification, and we’ll make a determination over the next few weeks. Hopefully, it will be the right one. It’s a very complicated subject,” Trump said.

Why Reclassify Marijuana?

The announcement came days after Trump attended a $1 million-per-head fundraiser with leaders from the marijuana industry, including Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve, and executives from Pfizer and the cryptocurrency sector.

Cannabis companies have actively lobbied for change, hiring top-tier lobbyists to influence the administration.

Currently, marijuana is a Schedule I drug, classified as highly addictive with no accepted medical use. This status, in effect since 1970 under the Controlled Substances Act, has largely prohibited its use federally, even though 45 states allow medical or recreational use.

Potential Effects of Reclassification

If reclassified to Schedule III, as proposed by the Biden administration in 2024, marijuana wouldn’t become fully legal for recreational use. However, it would:

• Reduce criminal penalties

• Enable more research

• Potentially provide tax breaks for cannabis companies

• Invite greater involvement from pharmaceutical companies

Trump acknowledged the complexity of the decision:

“I’ve heard great things about medical use and bad things about just about everything else. Some people like it, some people hate it.”

A Longtime Policy Debate

Trump’s consideration is part of a longstanding debate. In 2022, President Joe Biden asked the Department of Health and Human Services and the DEA to review marijuana’s classification. In 2023, HHS recommended moving it to Schedule III, and the DEA proposed a rule change—delayed since March 2025.

While Trump has expressed reservations about cannabis, he is interested in addressing cultural issues with broad public support. In 2024, he backed a Florida amendment to legalize marijuana, although it ultimately failed.