Trump’s Pending Marijuana Reclassification Could Ease Federal Restrictions and Boost Cannabis Industry

By Sam Barron | Thursday, December 11, 2025

President Donald Trump is expected to ease federal restrictions on marijuana use in early 2026 through a potential reclassification of the substance. Currently classified as a Schedule I drug — alongside heroin and LSD — marijuana has no accepted medical use under U.S. federal law. In contrast, substances like cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl are categorized as Schedule II drugs.

The proposed change would reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous substance, easing regulatory requirements for the industry and facilitating more cannabis research while providing tax incentives for companies in the sector.

Trump previously stated: “Some people like it, some people hate it. Some people hate the whole concept of marijuana because if it does bad for children, it does bad for people that are older than children.”

He added: “We’re looking at reclassification, and we’ll make a determination over the next few weeks. It’s a very complicated subject.”

In September, Trump posted a video on Truth Social advocating for Medicare coverage of CBD.

Last year, the Biden administration proposed reclassifying cannabis as a Schedule III drug — which includes substances such as steroids and acetaminophen with codeine — but this initiative did not move forward.

As of now, nearly 40 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical use, while nearly 36 states and D.C. have made it fully legal for recreational consumption.

A White House official confirmed that no final decision has been reached on the reclassification.

It is important to note that this proposed change would not make marijuana federally legal for recreational use.