Federal cannabis policy is entering a new phase. The Trump
administration's executive order to reclassify marijuana under
the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) marks a historic shift with
broad implications for compliance, research, and business strategy.
While implementation details remain uncertain, stakeholders should
prepare for evolving federal requirements.
In Depth
Executive action and policy shift
On December 18, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14370
instructing the attorney general to expedite the rescheduling of
cannabis under the CSA. The executive order calls for moving
cannabis from Schedule I, where it has remained since 1970
alongside heroin, to Schedule III, a category reserved for
substances with accepted medical uses and lower abuse potential,
such as ketamine and testosterone. The most significant changes in
connection with the rescheduling involve medical use, US Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) approval, prescription
