Trump may reclassify marijuana as less dangerous drug. Is that a good thing?
President Donald Trump is looking to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug under federal law.
Speaking to reporters at the White House briefing room on Aug. 11, Trump said a decision could come within the next couple of weeks.
Since 1970, the federal government has classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug, which is defined as highly dangerous, addictive and without medical use. In 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration proposed a rule to transfer marijuana to Schedule III, which includes drugs like ketamine and testosterone.
Trump said the decision is complicated, weighing the benefits of marijuana use for medical reasons against potential societal impacts.
"Some people like it, some people hate it. Some people hate the whole concept of marijuana," he said.
For the most part, the move would be good for science, research and medicine, said Raphael Cuomo, biomedical scientist and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
“Rescheduling would make it easier to study potential benefits and harms across conditions, which could improve dosing guidance and drug interaction data in oncology, pain and palliative care,” he said.
It would also likely improve quality control for cannabinoids that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and speed up high-quality clinical trials to improve product standardization and “answer clinical questions that matter to patients,” Cuomo said.
But it’s not all good.
Cuomo said reclassifying marijuana could be perceived as a “safety endorsement" as rates of heavy and daily use continue to climb.
In 2022, marijuana surpassed high-frequency drinking for the first time, according to a 2024 study published in the journal Addiction. An estimated 17.7 million people used marijuana daily or near-daily, compared to 14.7 million daily or near-daily drinkers.
From 1992 to 2022, the per capita rate of reporting daily or near-daily marijuana use increased 15-fold, the study found. About 40% of cannabis users reported doing it daily or nearly daily.
Research has shown long-term or heavy cannabis use can cause brain and mental health effects such as memory problems, psychotic disorders and psychosis, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
It can also irritate the lungs, leading to a daily cough, bronchitis, mucus and wheezing, and may carry some cardiovascular risks, according to recent research. Some people who use cannabis heavily can start vomiting without being able to stop, a condition called Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, which can be reversed by stopping marijuana use.
If the administration decides to reclassify marijuana, Cuomo said officials should also focus public messaging efforts to include warnings for youth, pregnancy, driving and individuals with a history of psychosis.
"Risk perception often moves faster than policy," he said.
Contributing: Sarah D. Wire, Paste BN; Reuters.
Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@usatoday.com.