President Donald Trump reiterated that he is “very strongly” considering an executive order that would reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said he was studying the move, adding that “a lot of people would like to see” it happen.
“It’s going to result in a lot of research that can’t be done unless it’s reclassified,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “So, we’re looking at that very strongly.”
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I substance, meaning it has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” This classification places the drug on the same level as heroin, LSD and ecstasy.
Multiple media outlets have reported that the White House is considering whether to add marijuana to Schedule III, which is defined as “drugs with moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.” Examples include Tylenol mixed with codeine, ketamine, and testosterone.
According to an October 2024 YouGov poll, 69% of registered voters support reclassifying marijuana into a less restrictive drug category, including 51% of Trump supporters and 86% of former Vice President Kamala Harris’ supporters. An August Morning Consult poll found that about three-fifths of voters, or 61%, support reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug under federal law.
Trump’s statement follows his widespread announcement during the 2024 campaign that he supports changes to federal policy on the drug. Two months before the election, he said he planned to vote for an amendment that would legalize recreational marijuana in his home state of Florida.
“As I’ve said before, I believe it is time to end the unnecessary arrests and jailing of adults for personal use of small amounts of marijuana,” Trump wrote in a post on his “Truth Social” platform. “We must also implement smart regulations while providing adults with access to safe, tested products.”
Former President Joe Biden’s administration also proposed moving the drug to a Schedule III category, but that did not happen by the end of his term. Last year, the Justice Department recommended adding marijuana to Schedule III, prompting a formal review by the DEA.
Trump’s announcement drew reactions from both sides of the political spectrum.
“Pray President Trump doesn’t continue [this],” Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham wrote on X on Tuesday.
“I think it’s wrong to reschedule marijuana,” New York Rep. Mike Lawler told NewsNation on Monday.
“The truth is, marijuana is a gateway drug,” Lawler said. “Most people who end up using hard substances start with marijuana.”
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has previously urged Trump to loosen marijuana restrictions, while Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said the president “is going to try to convince everyone that he just legalized marijuana.”
Wyden wrote on
Trump met privately last week with marijuana industry executives, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services head Muhammad Oz to discuss plans to loosen some federal restrictions on the drug, The Washington Post reported. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) joined the meeting by phone, the outlet first reported.
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