12/30/2025

White House Executive Order Advances Cannabis Research

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on December 18 directing the Department of Justice to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The order does not decriminalize marijuana, but it acknowledges reported medical benefits and follows earlier actions by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration to reconsider marijuana’s classification. Moving to Schedule III would reduce regulatory barriers for research while maintaining federal controls.

LeadingAge has supported rescheduling because it would allow more rigorous study of both the benefits and risks of medical marijuana use, particularly for chronic pain and other conditions affecting older adults. LeadingAge has also raised concerns that federal restrictions continue to create unnecessary housing access barriers for individuals using medical marijuana under state law. The executive order also eases restrictions on cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Members can follow ongoing developments through LeadingAge’s federal policy developments relating to cannabis serial post.