Dec 17 – U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to quickly reclassify marijuana, easing federal restrictions on research that could lead to new medical marijuana products.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The executive order moves marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, similar to codeine, ketamine, and certain stimulants.
- This reclassification simplifies funding for clinical trials and FDA approval for pharmaceutical companies.
- The executive order also aims to improve access to therapeutic products from hemp, which is derived from flowering plants in the Cannabis family.
Does this mean medical marijuana will become legal?
- Marijuana is illegal under federal law in the U.S.
- Forty states have legalized medical marijuana through dispensaries, and 24 allow recreational use among adults.
- These state-approved products remain federally illegal unless manufacturers get FDA approval.
Marijuana’s manufacture, distribution, and possession without legal authorization will remain unlawful, but penalties may be less severe than those for its current Schedule I status.
Marijuana, derived from Cannabis plants, contains cannabinoids that interact with the body’s chemical systems. THC, the most well-known cannabinoid, causes a euphoric high, while CBD produces physiological effects like pain relief without the high.
In 2018, the U.S. Congress ruled that cannabis plants with less than 0.3% THC, like hemp, are no longer considered marijuana.
Ten states that haven’t legalized cannabis have laws that limit THC while allowing access to hemp products rich in non-intoxicating CBD.
Only three cannabinoid drugs have shown evidence for FDA approval: Epidiolex, containing purified CBD from hemp, is approved for certain seizure disorders; Dronabinol, a synthetic THC, is approved for loss of appetite in HIV/AIDS patients and nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy; and all are considered generally safe but may have side effects.
After reclassification, FDA-approved drugs, including marijuana-derived ones, will be legally available in commercial pharmacies by prescription. Healthcare providers prescribing Schedule III medications must have a valid DEA registration.
Dronabinol has shown benefit for sleep apnea in mid-stage trials.
An experimental cannabis-derived medication from Vertanical was safer and more effective than placebo and opioids for treating chronic lower back pain in Europe. A U.S. trial is planned for 2026.
Sativex from CNX Therapeutics, an oral spray formulation, has shown efficacy in managing muscle spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis and is approved in over 30 countries outside the U.S.
Cannabinoid drugs are being tested for treating autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression in bipolar disorder, endometriosis, eczema, and alcohol use disorder.
Federal rescheduling of cannabis will likely accelerate research and standardized drug development for these conditions.
Despite limited clinical research, many people swear by medical marijuana, which is approved for various ailments like cancer, glaucoma, chronic pain, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, sickle cell disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and more. Some states don’t list specific medical conditions, giving doctors broad discretion.
