President Trump said the White House is "very strongly" weighing an executive order to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, a move that could ease federal restrictions and expand research. Sources told CNN the proposal was discussed at a lengthy Oval Office meeting attended by senior aides, health officials and industry figures, though White House officials say no final decision has been made. The conversation follows months of internal review and comes as the administration seeks policy wins with younger voters.
White House Says It Is “Very Strongly” Weighing Rescheduling Marijuana To Expand Research And Ease Federal Limits
A marijuana plant in San Anselmo, California, on August 11, 2025. - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/File
President Donald Trump said Monday the White House is "very strongly" considering signing an executive order to move marijuana to a lower federal drug classification — a change that could loosen some federal restrictions and open the way for expanded research.
"We are considering that because a lot of people want to see it — the reclassification, because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can’t be done unless you reclassify. So, we are looking at that very strongly," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Two sources told CNN the administration has discussed reclassifying cannabis from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III. Under the Drug Enforcement Administration’s definitions, Schedule I drugs are those "with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse," while Schedule III drugs are viewed as having a "moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence." Cannabis is currently listed alongside substances such as heroin, LSD and methamphetamine in Schedule I.
Oval Office Meeting And Key Participants
People familiar with the matter said the topic was raised during a more-than-two-hour meeting in the Oval Office on December 9. Attendees included senior White House staff and health officials: Chief of Staff Susie Wiles; Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair; White House Counsel David Warrington; Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz; Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary; and Domestic Policy Council Deputy Director Heidi Overton.
Industry representatives were also present, according to the sources: Kim Rivers of cannabis company Trulieve; Jim Hagedorn, CEO of Scotts Miracle-Gro (which operates a cannabis division); and Howard Kessler, a Trump ally and proponent of broader medical cannabis access. The Washington Post first reported on the meeting.
No Final Decision Yet, Officials Say
While sources told CNN that the White House has been in talks with industry groups and that an announcement could come soon, a White House official said on Friday that no final decision has been made. CNN contacted the White House again Monday seeking comment.
Privately, the White House has spent much of 2025 studying whether and how to reschedule marijuana. CNN previously reported that Wiles asked affected agencies for input; their responses were compiled by the Domestic Policy Council and presented over the summer. Earlier reporting also said Trump discussed loosening federal restrictions on cannabis with a small group of donors.
Political Context And Potential Impact
Trump first signaled support for changing federal marijuana policy during his 2024 presidential campaign as part of an effort to court younger voters. He said then that he supported measures such as allowing cannabis businesses access to bank accounts and enabling universities to conduct research. He also said he planned to vote for a Florida ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana and expressed interest in moving cannabis to Schedule III to unlock medical research.
The debate over rescheduling comes as the administration looks to balance regulatory, medical and political considerations. Supporters say rescheduling would remove barriers to scientific study, simplify banking and reduce federal enforcement conflicts with state laws; opponents warn it would not fully legalize cannabis and that regulatory frameworks would still be necessary.
Recent polling suggests Trump’s standing with younger voters has weakened: a Harvard Institute of Politics poll of 18-to-29-year-olds put his support in that cohort at 29%.
At present, the issue remains under review and no formal action has been announced.
