Following initial reports of its intent, President Trump signed an executive order on December 19, 2025, easing federal marijuana restrictions for medical use. It directs reclassification from Schedule I, expands research, supports cannabis treatments, and enables Medicare coverage—stopping short of recreational legalization.
President Donald Trump signed the executive order on December 19, 2025, as reported by NPR's Brian Mann, building on Thursday's announcement. The measure directs the attorney general to advance reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I (high abuse, no medical use) to Schedule III (accepted medical uses, lower risk), alongside drugs like ketamine.
Key provisions expand research into marijuana's benefits, facilitate medical treatments for conditions like chronic pain, and remove barriers for Medicare to fund cannabis-based therapies, including some CBD products from hemp. Trump noted, 'We have people begging me to do this, people who have been suffering for decades.'
While states lead on legalization, this federal step could boost the cannabis industry by easing banking and research hurdles, as seen in rising stock prices post-announcement. It balances reform advocates' demands with caution amid political divides, maintaining federal controls and penalties.
