Overview
- At a White House press briefing on August 11, President Trump confirmed his administration is “looking at reclassification” of marijuana and expects to decide within the next few weeks.
- Shifting marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III would not legalize recreational use but would reduce certain federal penalties, ease research barriers and allow state-legal cannabis businesses to seek tax deductions previously barred under Section 280E.
- The move revives a Biden-era process in which HHS recommended rescheduling in 2023 and the DEA proposed a rule in 2024, though that proposal has been on hold since March 2025.
- Cannabis stocks surged following Trump’s comments, with major operators like Canopy Growth and Tilray posting double-digit gains on Monday.
- The proposal has drawn millions in cannabis industry donations to pro-reclassification PACs and prompted opposition from law enforcement and conservative groups citing public-safety concerns.