US4 min(s) read
Published 16:23 27 Apr 2026 GMT
The Trump administration has unveiled what’s being described as one of the biggest overhauls of US drug policy in decades, with major changes to how marijuana is classified at the federal level, despite the drug being recreationally legal in 24 states already.
Last week, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous substance, marking a significant shift in policy that hasn’t been seen in over half a century.
The move follows a December 2025 directive from Donald Trump, who instructed the Department of Justice to fast-track the process.
The goal is to move cannabis from Schedule I, the most restrictive category, currently shared with drugs like heroin and LSD, to Schedule III, where substances such as ketamine and Tylenol with codeine are listed.
For context, marijuana has remained a Schedule I drug since the Controlled Substances Act was introduced in 1970.
That classification is reserved for substances considered to have “no accepted medical use” and a high potential for abuse, a stance critics have argued for decades was based more on politics than science.
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The idea that cannabis sits in the same category as heroin has long been one of the most hotly debated aspects of US drug policy.
While federal law has remained strict, individual states have steadily moved in the opposite direction.
The shift began in 1996, when California became the first state to legalize marijuana for medical use.
It wasn’t until 2012 that Colorado and Washington became the first to legalize recreational use, a move that opened the floodgates for others to follow.
Today, more than 40 states allow cannabis in some form, creating a strange legal contradiction: millions of Americans can legally use marijuana under state law, while it remains illegal at the federal level.
Medical marijuana is now permitted in the vast majority of states, while a growing number have legalized recreational use outright, allowing adults to purchase and consume cannabis similarly to alcohol.
States that have legalized cannabis for recreational use:
States that have legalized cannabis for medicinal use:
In a statement, Blanche said the change is about expanding healthcare options and improving research opportunities.
“The Department of Justice is delivering on President Trump's promise to expand Americans' access to medical treatment options,” he said.
He added: “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 also confirmed that a formal hearing is set to take place in June as part of the broader rule-making process.
Even though the order has been signed, the process isn’t immediate.
Once the rule is officially published, there will be a 30-day window before it takes effect.
During that time, it can be challenged in court, something many expect could delay implementation for months, or even years.
Still, if the change goes through, it would mark one of the most significant shifts in US drug policy since the 1970s, and could reshape how cannabis is viewed, researched, and regulated across the country.
