US3 min(s) read
Published 13:33 25 Apr 2026 GMT
A heart surgeon has spoken out about the effects of smoking cannabis, as Donald Trump moves to reclassify marijuana in a major shift in US drug policy.
The change, introduced under acting attorney general Todd Blanche, would move certain cannabis products from the most restrictive category—Schedule I—to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.
That would place them alongside medications like codeine-based painkillers, rather than drugs such as heroin or LSD. Officials say the goal is to make research easier and improve medical understanding.
Blanche explained, via The Guardian: “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.”
However, the move does not legalise marijuana federally, nor does it automatically change criminal penalties. Instead, it mainly affects how cannabis is studied, regulated, and taxed.
While some supporters see it as progress, some argue it doesn’t go far enough. As one reform supporter put it, “The real solution… is to de-schedule cannabis at the federal level, not just move to Schedule III.”
The decision comes as public attitudes toward cannabis continue to shift, with widespread use already common across the United States.
Trump himself has reportedly pushed for faster action, saying: “You’re going to get the rescheduling done, right? … You know, they’re slow-walking me on rescheduling.”
While the policy change could open the door to more scientific research, doctors say there are still unanswered questions about cannabis’s health effects, especially as stronger forms become more widely available. Some studies have linked heavy use to mental health issues, dependency, and conditions like severe vomiting episodes.
But one of the strongest warnings comes from Dr. Jeremy London, who says the risks to heart and lung health are often underestimated. He emphasised the basic role of the lungs, stating: “Let’s all agree on one thing… The lungs have one simple function, and that’s to bring air into and out of your lungs. Anything else is potentially harmful.”
London challenged the idea that cannabis is harmless because it’s natural. “Here’s the truth,” he said. “Smoking marijuana regularly increases your risk of coronary disease and acute heart attack by one point three to two times those that don’t smoke marijuana regularly.” He noted that this level of risk is comparable to major factors like high blood pressure.
Drawing on his experience in surgery, he described the physical impact he has seen: “I have operated on multiple patients over the years that smoke marijuana regularly and I can tell you their lungs are totally blackened… It looks like they’ve worked in a coal mine.” He added that some of these patients had never smoked cigarettes, yet still required serious procedures: “They’ve got such severe blockages that I have to do bypass surgery.”
What struck him most, he said, was a common misconception among patients. “They all say the same thing: ‘I thought it was safe.’”
As the US softens its stance on cannabis, the debate is becoming more complex. While reclassification may help advance research and medical use, experts say it also highlights the need for a clearer understanding of the risks. As London put it: “What’s important to me… is that you know the inherent risk.”
