Scoop: Trump set to reclassify marijuana soon

US President Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and media personality Joe Rogan during an executive order signing in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Saturday, April 18, 2026 — President Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the Oval Office of the White House on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

The Trump administration is expected to move to reclassify marijuana as soon as Wednesday, per an administration official familiar with the matter.

Why it matters: The move would make it easier to study medicinal applications of marijuana and could shore up support from influencers who support the research.

How it works: Reclassifying marijuana eases U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration barriers to researching the drug's potential use cases.

It would not immediately legalize marijuana, nor would it affect the sentences of those incarcerated for possession.

Catch up quick: Trump signed an executive order to reclassify the drug last December, directing the attorney general to pick up President Biden's push to change the federal laws prior to leaving office.

At the time, Trump said the move "has been requested by American patients suffering from extreme pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, neurological problems, and more."

Zoom in: Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, the same category as heroin, LSD and ecstasy.

The new categorization would put it in line with ketamine and steroids.
A drug's schedule is decided "based upon the substance's medical use, potential for abuse, and safety or dependence liability," according to the DEA.

Go deeper: Trump wants to reclassify weed. Here's when to expect the marijuana rule change

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated with more information.

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Scoop: Trump set to reclassify marijuana soon

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