According to the announcement, Blanche
also ordered that a hearing be held in June as part of a rule-making
process to reclassify all marijuana more broadly.
Once the rule change is published in the Federal Register, it has 30 days until it takes effect. During that time, it can be legally challenged - which is expected - and be blocked from being implemented for months or even years.
On Thursday, April 23, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed a formal order to reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved marijuana products from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.
This move marks a significant shift in federal policy, moving marijuana away from the same classification as heroin and LSD to a category for drugs with lower abuse potential and accepted medical uses.
Key Details of the Reclassification:
- Targeted Products: The order applies specifically to marijuana authorized by state medical programs and products approved by the FDA.
- What it Changes: It eases federal restrictions on medical marijuana, allows companies in state-licensed medical programs to deduct business expenses on federal taxes for the first time, and facilitates research.
- What it Does Not Do: The order does not legalize marijuana for recreational use, nor does it affect marijuana not sold through authorized state medical programs, which remains Schedule I.
- Next Steps: The Justice Department is setting an expedited hearing, scheduled to begin June 29, 2026, to consider a broader rescheduling of all marijuana.
The move follows an executive order from President Donald Trump directing the administration to loosen marijuana restrictions.
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