The White House said today that the administration is “looking at reclassification” of marijuana at the federal level — a move that could mark the biggest change in federal marijuana policy in more than half a century.
Speaking at an August 11 news conference, Trump emphasized that a decision would come “over the next few weeks,” acknowledging the balancing act between potential medical benefits and societal concerns.
The Current Landscape
Today, marijuana is still considered a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act — the most restrictive category, reserved for substances deemed highly dangerous, addictive, and without accepted medical use. That’s the same classification as heroin.
Yet, 45 states have legalized marijuana for either medical or recreational use, creating a glaring disconnect between state laws and federal policy.
How We Got Here
This potential shift traces back to 2022, when then-President Joe Biden directed federal agencies to review marijuana’s classification. The Department of Health and Human Services recommended moving marijuana to Schedule III in 2023 — a category that includes substances like Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids, which can be prescribed by doctors and dispensed by pharmacies.
The DEA proposed a rule to make that change in 2024, but it’s been in limbo since March 2025. Trump’s comments signal the matter may finally be moving forward.
What Reclassification Would — and Wouldn’t — Do
If marijuana is moved to Schedule III:
- Medical use could be more easily researched and prescribed under federal law.
- Cannabis businesses could see tax benefits currently unavailable due to its Schedule I status.
- It would still not make recreational marijuana legal federally — that would require an act of Congress.
Think of it as changing the rules of the game for doctors, researchers, and regulated companies, but not fully ending the tug-of-war between state and federal law.
The Bipartisan Balancing Act
Public opinion on marijuana has shifted dramatically over the past two decades, with majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents supporting legalization in some form. Still, skepticism remains — from law enforcement groups worried about public safety to health advocates raising concerns about youth access and long-term health effects.
Trump captured this divide bluntly: “Some people like it, some people hate it. Some people hate the whole concept of marijuana.”
A bipartisan approach to reclassification could provide a rare moment of agreement — or at least a shared starting point for the next chapter in U.S. drug policy.
What It Means for Security Clearance Holders
Even if marijuana moves to Schedule III, federal clearance holders and applicants may still face restrictions. The move to marijuana as a Schedule III drug would place it in line with Ketamine use – legal, but still restricted.
For those in the national security community, that means:
- Current policy likely won’t change immediately — agencies may still expect employees to refrain from marijuana use.
- Past use could still be questioned during clearance investigations, though evolving laws and public opinion may influence how adjudicators weigh it.
- Medical marijuana prescriptions could remain complicated for clearance holders, but this is likely the biggest area of benefit for the cleared community. Individuals with a legal prescription to marijuana would be able to use the drug, but it will be important to ensure that those legal uses comply with federal statutes and regulations and not existing state ones.
In other words, reclassification might soften the federal stance on research and prescription, but it doesn’t automatically give clearance holders a green light. As with many policy shifts in D.C., the cultural and regulatory follow-through will likely lag behind the headlines.
