The U.S. government has announced a shift in the roadmap of its federal cannabis policy by reclassifying marijuana, removing it from the group of substances considered most dangerous under U.S. law.
The measure, driven by the Department of Justice of the Donald Trump Administration, represents one of the most relevant turns in decades regarding this drug in the country.
A change in the federal classification
The interim attorney general, Todd Blanche, has confirmed that marijuana will no longer be in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, where drugs like heroin or MDMA are found, to move to Schedule III, which includes substances with accepted medical use such as steroids or ketamine.
This change does not imply the federal legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes, but it does represent an official recognition of its possible therapeutic value and opens the door to greater scientific research.
More medical research and fewer restrictions
The reclassification will allow the reduction of legal barriers that have limited studies on the medical uses of cannabis for years. Until now, its research at the federal level was heavily restricted by its consideration as a drug with no accepted medical use.
The Department of Justice has also indicated that it is studying an accelerated procedure for a possible additional reclassification, which could continue to modify the legal status of the substance in the future.
Limited impact on recreational use
Despite the magnitude of the announcement, the decision does not modify the legal framework for recreational marijuana consumption, which continues to depend on each state's legislation. Currently, around 40 states allow its use for medical purposes, and several have also regulated its recreational use at the state level.
The new status focuses mainly on the federal sphere, without immediately altering current local regulations.
Boost to the cannabis industry
The measure could also have a significant impact on the cannabis economic sector in the United States. By reducing its classification as a highly dangerous substance, a lower tax burden and greater ease of access to financing are expected for companies in the sector.
Companies like Canopy Growth, Tilray Brands, or Trulieve Cannabis could benefit from this new regulatory framework, in a context where markets have already reacted with increases in the value of their shares.
President Trump himself signed a decree in December to initiate this reclassification process, arguing medical and humanitarian reasons. At the time, he defended the measure as a response to patients with serious illnesses, veterans with injuries, and people with chronic ailments.
The announcement was then made in the Oval Office alongside patients, doctors, and industry representatives, in a gesture that marked the beginning of the current policy change.