President Orders Easier Medical Marijuana Research by Downgrading Drug Status
Published Date: 12/23/2025
Presidential Document
Summary
The President just signed an order to make medical marijuana research easier and better by changing its federal drug status from Schedule I to Schedule III. This means scientists and companies can study marijuana and CBD more freely, helping doctors and patients get safer, proven treatments. The change affects millions of patients and healthcare providers, with new rules rolling out soon to boost research and innovation.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Order to Reschedule Marijuana to Schedule III
The President ordered the Attorney General to complete the rulemaking to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act in the most expeditious manner, per 21 U.S.C. 811. The order cites a 2023 HHS recommendation, a May 2024 DOJ proposed rule, and notes more than 30,000 licensed health practitioners across 43 jurisdictions recommend medical use for over 6 million registered patients.
Push to Update CBD Product Definition and Limits
The Assistant to the President is directed to work with Congress to update the statutory definition of final hemp-derived cannabinoid products so Americans can access appropriate full-spectrum CBD products while preserving limits on products that pose serious health risks. That work includes developing guidance on an upper limit in milligrams of THC per serving, consideration of per-container limits, and CBD-to-THC ratio requirements.
Agencies to Develop Real-World Research Methods
The Secretary of HHS, the FDA Commissioner, the CMS Administrator, and the NIH Director are tasked to develop research methods and models that use real‑world evidence to improve access to hemp-derived cannabinoid products and to inform standards of care. The order emphasizes focusing on long-term health effects in vulnerable populations, including adolescents and young adults.
Some Full‑Spectrum CBD May Become Controlled
The order notes that when section 781 of Public Law 119-37 goes into effect, some full‑spectrum CBD products that contain THC above that law's per-container threshold will again be controlled as marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. The document also cites studies showing some commercial CBD products were inaccurately labeled, posing consumer safety risks.
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