The Trump administration has started the process to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug through an executive order signed last month. This change does not legalize marijuana at the federal level, and marijuana companies in the United States are still not allowed by federal regulators to handle Schedule III drugs. The 24 states that have legalized adult-use marijuana will continue with their current regulations.
According to the administration, this policy shift is mainly intended to encourage more research into marijuana’s medical benefits and its use as an alternative to opioids. The initiative was first considered under the previous administration but did not move forward due to opposition from DEA officials, who resisted efforts to reschedule marijuana.
The new executive action instructs the Attorney General to begin the formal rulemaking process needed for rescheduling marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act.
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