President Donald Trump has indicated that his administration is considering reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug. This move follows the efforts of the Biden administration, which had already begun the process to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug. Since 1971, marijuana was considered a Schedule I drug, meaning it has no accepted medical use and presents a high potential for abuse. The Biden administration pushed for a significant change in the federal classification of marijuana, moving it to Schedule II (similar to codeine or methamphetamines, but with medical potential), recognizing its medical uses. Moving drugs to Schedule III status, such as ketamine and anabolic steroids, would allow for less restriction and promote extensive medical research. “We’re looking at it. Because a lot of people want to see the reclassification, as it involves a tremendous amount of research that can’t be done without the reclassification. So we’re looking at it very seriously,” Trump said in the Oval Office when asked about the possibility, according to The Hill. Reactions and Criticism: Despite the potential change, critics, such as Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, accuse Trump of seeking political capital by considering reclassification without actually decriminalizing marijuana use. There are concerns that this is merely an attempt to improve his public image. “He hasn’t decriminalized cannabis or expunged the records of Black and Latino Americans incarcerated for minor drug-related offenses. This is just an attempt to boost his pathetic approval ratings,” Wyden wrote in X. Reclassification would facilitate marijuana research and could be beneficial to the already multi-billion-dollar cannabis industry. However, changes to federal law would still leave penalties for marijuana use and possession in place.

Benefits of Reclassification

The Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) reclassification of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III would facilitate researchers' access to the substance, eliminating bureaucratic barriers that previously classified it as having no accepted medical use.

This measure would allow scientists to obtain higher-quality cannabis in sufficient quantities for clinical studies, streamlining approvals and reducing costs associated with strict regulations. It expands preclinical research with varied doses and routes of administration, recognizing potential medical uses such as the management of chronic pain.

The reclassification recognizes therapeutic benefits with lower risk than opioids, encouraging evidence of safe and effective medical applications.

This could boost approved pharmaceutical products and legal frameworks for medicinal cannabis in more countries.

Public Perception of Marijuana

Public perception of marijuana in the United States has shifted from strong opposition in the 1960s and 1970s to widespread support in the last two decades.

In the 1960s, a majority of Americans almost unanimously opposed its legalization, viewing it as a dangerous drug associated with the counterculture. Since the late 1990s, opinions have liberalized dramatically, shifting from a ratio of three to one against to two to one in favor over the past three decades. By 2013, a majority supported legalization, an 11-point increase since 2010 and more pronounced changes since the 1960s. This shift coincides with the doubling of the number of users in the last decade, driven by legalization in multiple states. State legalization has reduced stigma, especially among young people, although concerns about teen access and public health persist. Adult use grew steadily from 2002 to 2022. Expert Opinions Health experts acknowledge potential benefits of medical marijuana, such as relief from chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and muscle spasms, but caution about risks such as addiction and cognitive effects. Key Benefits Medical marijuana helps reduce nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer or HIV, improves appetite, and relieves pain in multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries. Studies indicate antiemetic effects approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for derivatives such as dronabinol. Main risks include increased heart rate, dizziness, memory problems, drug interactions, and an increased risk of psychosis or schizophrenia in predisposed individuals. Chronic use can cause bronchitis.Respiratory inflammation and sedation increase the risk of falls or accidents. Organizations such as the Mayo Clinic and the NCI highlight the lack of robust evidence for many uses, recommending strict medical supervision and caution in pregnant women or those with heart conditions. The risk of addiction is low at controlled medicinal doses, but concerns about immunosuppression in cancer patients persist. You may also be interested in: