Trump issues major executive order on marijuana

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Thursday to reclassify marijuana in an effort to “improve medical marijuana and cannabidiol research” to provide doctors and patients with better information regarding the use of the drug.

“The facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications when carefully administered,” Trump said during the signing of the executive order on Thursday. “In some cases, this may include the use as a substitute for addictive and potentially lethal opioid painkillers.”

Trump explained that his executive order to reclassify marijuana will make it “far easier” for experts to conduct medical marijuana research and will provide insight into the “benefits, potential dangers, and future treatments” stemming from marijuana. “It’s going to have a tremendously positive impact, I believe,” the president said.

“I promised to be the president of common sense, and that is exactly what we’re doing,” Trump added. “This is really something having to do with common sense.”

In a fact sheet accompanying the president’s executive order, the White House confirmed that the order directs U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to expedite the process of rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule 1 drug to a Schedule 3 drug. 

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration defines Schedule 1 drugs as “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” while Schedule 3 drugs are defined as “drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”

According to CNN, Trump emphasized the number of people who urged him to reclassify marijuana during his comments at Thursday’s executive order signing.

“I’ve never been inundated by so many people as I have about this particular reclassification,” the president said.

CNN reported that while Trump’s executive order reclassifies marijuana as a Schedule 3 drug, the executive order does not federally legalize the drug, which has already been legalized in multiple states across the country. The outlet noted that Trump’s executive order also does not affect the recreational use of marijuana.

Prior to Thursday’s executive order signing, a group of Republican lawmakers attempted to stop the president from moving forward with his plans to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.

In a letter to Trump that was obtained by Fox News, the Republican lawmakers, led by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R-Md.), stated, “We write to urge you to oppose rescheduling marijuana, a harmful drug that is worsening our nation’s addiction crisis.”

The Republican lawmakers warned, “Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug will send the wrong message to America’s children, enable drug cartels, and make our roads more dangerous.”