The drug shifts from Class I to Schedule III, expanding potential for medical use.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that reclassifies cannabis as a Schedule III drug rather than Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which is the same grouping as heroin or LSD. The change in designation recognizes a “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence” and allows for the expansion of research.
President Trump said, “We have people begging for me to do this, people that are in great pain. For decades, this action has been requested by American patients suffering from extreme pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, neurological problems, and more, including numerous veterans with service-related injuries and older Americans who live with chronic medical problems that severely degrade their quality of life.”
He continued, “I think I probably have received more phone calls on this, on doing what we’re doing. I don’t think I received any calls on the other side of it, but hopefully, this reclassification, which, by the way, polls at 82%, will help many of those patients live a far better life.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For President Trump and U.S. health officials as they review and consider drug classifications.
- For leaders in HHS, FDA, and CDC as they assess the risks and benefits of prescriptions and therapies.
Sources: Scripps News, MSN, Daily Wire, The White House
