Trump ponders over reclassifying marijuana as a less harmful substance, according to a news report
Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Remains in Limbo as Biden and Trump Administration Contemplate Change
The federal marijuana rescheduling process is currently in a holding pattern, awaiting a hearing that was postponed in January 2025 due to an appeal.
During the Biden administration, steps were taken to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, based on scientific and medical evaluations by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This proposed move would reduce criminal penalties and allow marijuana businesses to gain certain tax benefits. However, the process was not finalized before the Biden administration left office, leaving the rule pending and the hearing delayed.
In August 2025, former President Donald Trump and his administration expressed interest in reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, continuing momentum toward rescheduling. Trump publicly stated he expected to make a decision on this within a few weeks and acknowledged complexities surrounding the issue. He noted support for medical marijuana and the dual perspectives on the drug's risks and benefits.
Multiple bills have been introduced in Congress by both Democrats and Republicans seeking to either lower marijuana’s federal classification to Schedule III or to remove it from the Controlled Substances Act altogether, though none have been signed into law yet.
Kim Rivers, CEO of one of the largest marijuana companies, Trulieve, attended Trump's fundraiser and urged the president to make the change and expand medical marijuana research.
As of now, at least 40 states have legalized medical marijuana, while 24 states and Washington, D.C., have also legalized recreational marijuana.
In summary, efforts to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous continue but remain unresolved at the federal level, with ongoing executive and legislative activities in 2025. The Wall Street Journal contributed to this report, citing sources familiar with the matter.
[1] Wall Street Journal, "Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Hearing Postponed", January 2025. [2] Wall Street Journal, "Trump Administration Considers Reclassifying Marijuana", August 2025. [3] CNN, "Trump Expresses Interest in Marijuana Rescheduling", August 2025. [4] NORML, "Congressional Bills Seek to Reschedule Marijuana", 2025. [5] Politico, "Trump Mulls Over Marijuana Rescheduling", August 2025.
The ongoing discussions about marijuana rescheduling, as part of policy-and-legislation, are deeply rooted in the complexities of politics, particularly in light of the Biden and Trump administrations' positions. General news sources continue to report on proposed changes and debates, as initiatives persist toward reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
With multiple bills introduced in Congress aiming to reclassify marijuana or remove it from the Controlled Substances Act, the future of federal marijuana policy is far from settled, with ongoing deliberations both in executive and legislative branches.
