STORY: FDA-approved and state-licensed marijuana is being reclassified as a less-dangerous drug.
In a post on X, Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the DOJ was immediately rescheduling it from Schedule I to Schedule III.
That's a category for substances with a moderate to low risk of physical or psychological dependence, such as steroids.
Schedule I drugs, like heroin, have high potential for abuse and no current accepted medical use.
The reclassification does not mean marijuana is legalized across the United States.
But it is one of the most significant federal changes to marijuana policy in decades.
And it removes barriers to researching the drug's potential use.
The move follows a December executive order from President Donald Trump directing the Justice Department to loosen marijuana restrictions.
:: December 18, 2025
TRUMP: "We have people begging for me to do this, people that are in great pain."
The reclassification of the world's most widely used illicit drug will likely reshape the pot industry by lowering tax burdens, and making it easier for cannabis companies to secure funding.
