Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order on Thursday reclassifying state-authorized medical marijuana to Schedule III, a less strictly regulated category. The move does not legalize cannabis under federal law but offers tax breaks and eases research barriers. It follows a directive from President Donald Trump to expedite the process.
Todd Blanche, acting Attorney General under President Donald Trump, signed an executive order on April 23, 2026, moving state-authorized medical marijuana from Schedule I—reserved for drugs with no accepted medical use and high abuse potential—to Schedule III.
The order does not permit medical or recreational marijuana use under federal law but largely legitimizes programs in 40 states. It provides tax deductions for state-licensed producers and distributors for the first time and shields researchers from penalties when using state-licensed cannabis, as reported by AP.
Blanche stated in a press release: “This reclassification measure allows investigation into the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and physicians with more reliable information.” It fulfills Trump's promise to expand medical treatment options after he directed in December to speed up the process begun under Joe Biden.
Michael Bronstein, president of the American Cannabis and Hemp Trade Association, called it “the most significant federal advancement in cannabis policy in over 50 years.” Some Republicans oppose the easing, however, and its effects on states with mixed recreational-medical sales, like Washington, remain unclear.
