0:50Harvested marijuana at Goodblend in Austin, Texas, May 1, 2025.Amanda McCoy/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
On Monday, President Donald Trump expressed that he and his administration are contemplating the reclassification of marijuana to a less hazardous category.
Trump informed journalists that the process is still in its early stages, but he anticipates reaching a decision on the issue in the upcoming weeks.
"We are examining the possibility of reclassification and aim to make a decision over the next — I would estimate over the next few weeks, and that decision will hopefully be the correct one. It’s a very intricate topic," Trump remarked during a press conference in the White House briefing room.
Trump was present in the briefing room to announce a federal intervention in Washington’s policing and the deployment of the National Guard to address, as he stated, the crime and homelessness in the city. During the press conference, he was questioned if reclassifying marijuana might send contradictory signals as his administration aims to "clean up" crime in the capital and possibly other urban areas.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington.Alex Brandon/AP
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report that Trump is considering changing marijuana’s classification from a Schedule 1 substance to a Schedule 3 substance.
As a Schedule 1 drug, marijuana is categorized alongside heroin and LSD as "substances with no currently acknowledged medical use and a high potential for abuse."
In contrast, Schedule 3 drugs are characterized as having "moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence" and include substances like ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.
During the concluding year of the Biden administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration indicated its support for recommending the reclassification of marijuana.
Changing marijuana’s classification would facilitate more research into the substance and yield tax advantages for the cannabis sector.
Harvested marijuana at Goodblend in Austin, Texas, May 1, 2025.Amanda McCoy/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
On Monday, Trump mentioned that he has heard both positive and negative feedback regarding the drug.
"I’ve received excellent feedback concerning its medical applications, yet I’ve also encountered negative opinions regarding nearly everything else. However, in terms of medical use, especially for pain and other ailments," Trump stated.
"Some individuals appreciate it, while others despise it," the president remarked.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
