Trump Moves to Reclassify Marijuana

0:00It's April 22, from coast to coast. This is U.S. News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. The Trump administration is gearing up to shift marijuana from schedule one to schedule three under federal law, a big move that would loosen rules on. Medical research without legalizing the plant outright. This reclassification recognizes some accepted medical uses and tones down the old label of high abuse potential with zero benefits. It won't touch prison sentences for possession, though. Trump himself showed frustration over the delays during a White House event on April 18, pushing his team to speed things up. This comes four months after his December 18, 2025 executive order, telling the Justice Department to get it done fast, under the controlled substances act. Right now, marijuana sits in the strictest federal bucket, alongside stuff like heroin, while hemp gets its own separate treatment. Scientists in the medical field see this as a win for studying treatments, but states

1:02with their own laws won't see automatic changes. The process still needs reviews from health and human services and the Drug Enforcement Administration, plus public comments and possible hearings, which have dragged on for years before. A Biden-era review even stalled out. Word is, they're close to the next step, possibly in days, so keep an eye on how this plays out for research and federal policy down the line.