The US Department of Justice has officially reclassified cannabis as a less dangerous substance, marking a major shift in federal drug policy. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Thursday that marijuana products covered by the FDA or state medical marijuana licenses will move from Schedule I—the most restrictive category reserved for drugs like heroin—to Schedule III, placing them alongside substances such as Tylenol with codeine.
Blanche also called a hearing to consider broader reclassification of all marijuana. The move follows an order from President Donald Trump last year to begin the process, aimed at expanding access and research.
Despite the federal reclassification, marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. However, most US states have legalized medical or recreational use, creating a patchwork of regulations.
"The Department of Justice is delivering on President Trump's promise to expand Americans' access to medical treatment options," Blanche said in a statement. "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."
A hearing is scheduled for June as part of a rule-making process to reclassify all marijuana. Once the rule change is published in the Federal Register, it takes effect after 30 days, but legal challenges are expected and could delay implementation.
This action comes five days after Trump signed an executive order to boost access to psychedelic drugs for medical treatment. Since 1970, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I substance, defined as having "high potential for abuse" and "no currently accepted medical use."
Morgan Fox of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) described the change as mostly "symbolic," noting that over two-thirds of Americans support full legalization. "Moving it out of that classification allows us to have policy conversations that don't start and end with that definition," Fox said, adding that his group will continue to push for full federal descheduling.