President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order this week aimed at accelerating the federal reclassification of cannabis, a move that would mark a significant shift in U.S. drug policy and regulatory oversight.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the order would direct federal agencies to expedite the review process under the Controlled Substances Act, where marijuana is currently listed in the most restrictive category. Reclassification would reduce federal barriers that have long limited medical research and complicated regulatory frameworks for cannabis-related activity.
The administration has framed the move as a way to modernize federal policy, particularly in areas related to scientific study and medical use. Trump has said easing restrictions could unlock broader research opportunities that are currently constrained by marijuana’s classification under federal law.
While the executive order would not legalize cannabis nationwide, it could reshape how federal agencies regulate the substance and how states align their own policies. A lower classification could also ease compliance burdens for researchers and clarify legal uncertainties that have affected businesses operating in states where cannabis is already legal.
The White House has not released specific details on the timeline or scope of the reclassification process, but the expected order signals growing momentum toward a federal reassessment of marijuana policy after decades of unchanged classification.
