President Trump's acting attorney general ordered the immediate reclassification of FDA-approved and state-licensed marijuana as a less dangerous drug Thursday.
Why it matters: The move will make it easier to study medicinal applications of marijuana and could shore up support from influencers who support the research.
- Axios first reported Wednesday that the Trump administration was expected to move to reclassify marijuana, per an administration official familiar with the matter.
The latest: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in a Thursday post that on top of rescheduling state- and FDA-approved marijuana from Schedule I to III, the Justice Department would also order a new, expedited hearing to reschedule all marijuana.
- The DOJ said in a news release that hearing would begin June 29 to provide a "pathway to evaluate broader changes" to the drug's status under federal law.
- "These actions will enable more targeted, rigorous research into marijuana's safety and efficacy, expanding patients' access to treatments and empowering doctors to make better-informed healthcare decisions," Blanche's post read.
How it works: Reclassifying marijuana eases U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration barriers to researching the drug's potential use cases.
- It would not immediately legalize marijuana, nor would it affect the sentences of those incarcerated for possession.
Catch up quick: Trump signed an executive order to reclassify the drug last December, directing the attorney general to pick up President Biden's push to change the federal restrictions prior to leaving office.
- At the time, Trump said the move "has been requested by American patients suffering from extreme pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, neurological problems, and more."
Zoom in: The government previously classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug, the same category as heroin, LSD and ecstasy.
- The new categorization would put it in line with ketamine and steroids.
- A drug's schedule is decided "based upon the substance's medical use, potential for abuse, and safety or dependence liability," according to the DEA.
Go deeper: Trump wants to reclassify weed. Here's when to expect the marijuana rule change
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated with more information.
