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ARTICLE · 30 DECEMBER 2025

Cannabis Rescheduling Accelerated: What Cannabis And CBD Companies Should Know

Caldwell Law
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On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to fast-track the reclassification of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.

United StatesCannabis & Hemp
Marcus Wolter
Marcus Wolter
Bianca Lindau
Bianca Lindau
Elizabeth Bestwick
Elizabeth Bestwick
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On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to fast-track the reclassification of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. While the order does not legalize cannabis at the federal level or alter state recreational regimes, it represents a significant federal shift that could affect tax planning, product strategy, and capital formation for cannabis and CBD businesses, particularly those operating in or adjacent to the medical cannabis and CBD markets.

What the Order Does and Does Not Do

The order directs the Attorney General to expeditiously complete the rescheduling process aimed at moving cannabis to Schedule III for purposes of federal medical research and regulation. The order has three core directives: (1) complete the Schedule III rulemaking under the Controlled Substances Act, (2) work with Congress to modernize hemp and cannabinoid definitions to preserve access

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