The United States has taken a significant step toward expanding access to medical cannabis by reclassifying marijuana, a move aimed at improving patient care and advancing scientific research.
Under the new policy, marijuana has been downgraded from its previous classification as a high-risk substance to one considered to have moderate to low potential for addiction. This shift marks a major departure from its longstanding placement in the most restrictive category under the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), where it was previously grouped with drugs such as heroin and methamphetamine.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the reclassification will expand access to treatment options for patients and allow healthcare providers to make more informed decisions. The change is also expected to remove barriers that have long limited scientific research into marijuana’s medical benefits and risks.
The Department of Justice confirmed that the move follows an executive order issued by Donald Trump in December, which called for increased research into medical marijuana.
By easing restrictions, federal officials hope to accelerate clinical studies, better understand cannabis’s therapeutic potential, and align federal policy more closely with the growing number of states that already permit its medical use.
