Donald Trump is ready to change the federal classification of cannabis.
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For decades, cannabis has remained in the most restrictive federal category, along with substances like heroin and LSD. However, it is quite possible that Donald Trump will soon announce an executive order calling for: reclassification of cannabis to Schedule III. In other words: the official recognition of its medical benefits and a significantly less punitive status for economic actors would be excellent news.
The White House states thatno final decision has been made yet. However, closely following the topic at Kilogrammes, we note that discussions are increasing, from the Oval Office to federal agencies, and that enthusiasm in the American cannabis industry, which is estimated at … 32 billion...
The reclassification of cannabis: an idea that has come a very long way.
Cannabis is still classified today as cannabis. Schedule I. It is among substances considered medically worthless and prone to abuse. A relic of the 1970s. Donald Trump’s plan, which still needs confirmation, envisions reclassifying it as a Schedule III drug, along with medications that contain … codeine or hormonal treatments subject to prescription.
A lawyer specialized in this field, Shane Pennington, summarizes the issue and notes that this would be the most comprehensive nationwide reassessment of cannabis in over half a century.
Note that this change would not mean nationwide legalization. However, the impact for businesses, researchers, and governments would be enormous, as it would mean the end of the tax trap of Code 280E, which denies cannabis actors access to usual business deductions, as well as easier access to scientific research. But above all, it would create a more favorable political climate for wavering states to modernize their cannabis laws.
For a sector already driven by demand and innovation, CBD flowers or extracts or edibles or THC alternatives, this reclassification could trigger a new influx of investment...
Donald Trump, the industry, and a deliberate political calculation…
In an article on this topic The Washington Post reports that Donald Trump recently exchanged messages with Mike Johnson, President of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as with leading industry representatives and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health.
According to the latest leaked information, Mike Johnson unfortunately expressed concerns. Donald Trump, on the other hand, ended the conversation with a tendency to push the project forward.
In summary, the president has been sending positive signals for several months, with support for a pro-cannabis initiative in Florida, several public statements in favor of reclassification, and quite frankly sharing a video promoting CBD produced by the Commonwealth Project. It does not tell us whether Donald Trump consumes alcohol or not, but it is quite surprising, isn’t it?
His closest circle also includes personalities from the cannabis industry, such as Mark Savaya (Leaf and Bud) – proof of the close connection between the administration and the sector. In other words: the reclassification appears very much as an economic gesture a policy that gives a strategic industry room to maneuver… while at the same time adopting a modern stance on an issue that crosses traditional dividing lines.
A still vocal opposition
As one might expect, anti-cannabis groups are already reacting. For example, Kevin Sabet of Smart Approaches to Marijuana warns in a video that reclassification would bring tax benefits for large companies and a “very bad message” to young people. According to him, Donald Trump listens more to his followers than to science.”
And yet, when we talk about science, well, the scientific foundations did not just appear yesterday! In 2023 the Biden administration had already paved the way by recognizing proven medical benefits of cannabis and initiating the regulatory review process, which is now being taken up by Donald Trump.
A momentum has been set in motion, but the situation remains uncertain.
Let’s not kid ourselves, nothing is set in stone, and Donald Trump could very well change his mind again, as he has done several times in the past. What happens next is uncertain. Meetings with authorities continueand the White House hesitates. But on one point everyone agrees: the momentum really seems to be increasing, so fingers crossed!
If cannabis is moved to Schedule III this will be a political and economic earthquake. An important step toward a more modern view of the use of CBD products, whether in the recreational, medical, or legal product market, for example on CBD flowers or CBD extracts. For a country where… 24 states have already legalized recreational use.This could be the beginning of a new chapter at the federal level…
