U.S. to Reclassify Marijuana to Schedule III

The U.S. government is poised to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law as early as Wednesday, a move that would ease restrictions on medical research without legalizing the substance for recreational use. The anticipated decision, which follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in December, marks one of the most substantial shifts in federal marijuana policy in decades.

Under current federal regulations, marijuana is categorized as a Schedule I drug, a designation reserved for substances with high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Reclassification to Schedule III would recognize its accepted medical applications while maintaining controls similar to those for drugs like ketamine and certain painkillers. Officials familiar with the process indicated the change could remove longstanding barriers imposed by the Drug Enforcement Administration, facilitating broader clinical studies into potential therapeutic benefits for conditions such as chronic pain and epilepsy.

The development stems from Trump's December executive order, which directed the Justice Department to expedite the reclassification. During a White House...