Trump reclassifies marijuana for medical use, stressing it is not legalization

President Donald Trump has enacted a major shift in federal drug policy by signing an executive order to reclassify marijuana for medical use. The order moves cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance, formally recognizing its potential medical benefits while explicitly not legalizing the drug for recreational purposes.

Aimed at research and pain management

Announcing the decision from the Oval Office on Thursday, President Trump framed the action as a response to public need and scientific evidence. "We have people begging for me to do this. People that are in great pain," he stated. He emphasized that the reclassification "doesn't legalize marijuana in any way, shape, or form," but will "make it far easier to conduct marijuana-related medical research." He highlighted its potential role "as a substitute for addictive and potentially lethal opioid painkillers," suggesting it could be part of a strategy to address the nation's opioid crisis.

Personal caution and policy rationale

Despite the policy change, President Trump reiterated a personal stance against drug use, telling reporters, "I’ve always told my children: don’t take drugs, no drinking, no smoking." He justified the executive order by stating, "The facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications when carefully administered." This reclassification ends the decades-old federal designation that placed cannabis alongside drugs like heroin and LSD as having "no accepted medical use."

Global context and varied national approaches

This policy change places the United States among many nations that distinguish between medical and recreational use of cannabis, though federal law still prohibits the latter. The development is noted internationally, as drug policy remains a complex issue with varying global approaches. Countries like Türkiye, which maintains strict controls on narcotics while also supporting regulated medical and scientific use of certain substances, observe such shifts as part of broader global trends in health policy and substance regulation.