Overview
- President Trump confirmed that his administration is actively considering downgrading marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III and expects to announce a decision in the coming weeks.
- Rescheduling would not legalize recreational use but would allow cannabis firms to deduct ordinary business expenses, expand banking access and ease research approvals.
- Cannabis industry groups have intensified lobbying efforts and contributed millions of dollars to political organizations in hopes of securing federal tax and regulatory relief.
- Public-health experts and law enforcement officials warn that modern high-THC products carry elevated risks of psychosis, cardiovascular harm and addiction, which they say could worsen under a looser classification.
- New DEA Administrator Terrance Cole has expressed a long-standing anti-marijuana stance and left cannabis off his initial list of strategic priorities, signaling potential resistance within the agency.