Prez Trump signs executive order directing the federal rescheduling of marijuana to Schedule III of the CSA
As had been widely reported (and every more widely anticipated by all sorts of players in the marijuana reform space), President Donald Trump signed this Executive Order today, titled “Increasing Medical Marijuana And Cannabidiol Research.” The White House also today released this document, titled “Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump is Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research,” which provides this accounting of what Prez Trump’s EO does:
Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order that will improve medical marijuana and cannabidiol research to better inform patients and doctors.
The Order directs the Attorney General to expedite completion of the process of rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III of the Controlled Substance Act (CSA). The Order directs the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs to work with the Congress to allow Americans to benefit from access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products while still restricting the sale of products that pose serious health risks. The Order directs HHS to develop research methods and models utilizing real-world evidence to improve access to hemp-derived cannabinoid products in accordance with Federal law and to inform standards of care.
I think it both politically shrewd and legally sound to frame this action in terms of effort to “improve medical marijuana and cannabidiol research to better inform patients and doctors.” But, of course, federal rescheduling with have a variety of other significant formal and informal legal and practical echoes both nationally and in various states. Indeed, consistent with so much else in the marijuana reform space, I expect this action by Prez Trump to have predictably unpredictable impacts on laws and policies from coast to coast.
Interesting times. And for additional background and context, be sure to check out this updated resource webpage of the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, “Federal Marijuana Rescheduling: Process and Impact.”