US reclassifies certain marijuana products as a less-dangerous drug
It is one of the most significant federal changes to marijuana policy in decades, removing barriers to researching the drug’s potential use
The US Department of Justice is reclassifying FDA-approved and state-licensed marijuana as a less dangerous drug, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Thursday.
The announcement does not legalise marijuana across the United States.
In a post on X, Blanche said the Justice Department was “immediately rescheduling FDA-approved marijuana and state-licensed marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III”.
The department is also initiating an expedited hearing to consider the broader rescheduling of marijuana, it said in a statement.
“This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information,” Blanche said in a statement.
The decision to reclassify marijuana represents one of the most significant federal changes to marijuana policy in decades, removing barriers to researching the drug’s potential use. The move follows a December executive order from President Donald Trump directing the Justice Department to loosen marijuana restrictions.