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ARTICLE · 23 APRIL 2025

DEA Final Order To Reschedule Marijuana From Schedule I To Schedule III Effective Immediately

Clark Hill Plc
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The DEA has issued a final order moving certain marijuana classifications from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, creating new compliance requirements and tax relief opportunities for state-licensed medical marijuana operators.

United StatesCannabis & Hemp
Craig Small
Craig Small
Karl Frederic
Karl Frederic

Today is a momentous day in marijuana history. The DEA issued a final order on Apr. 22nd, moving certain marijuana classifications from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Interestingly, the legal milestone here isn’t the usual state medical/recreational rulemaking process, it’s the United States’ treaty obligations under the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961). If you’re a cannabis operator, medical professional, researcher, or investor, this one matters. Now is the time to reach out to a Clark Hill cannabis attorney to help you navigate through this latest evolution.

What the Final Order Actually Does

The key thing to understanding is this order doesn’t reschedule all marijuana. It only moves specific marijuana categories into Schedule III:

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