Trump Reclassifies Cannabis

Through the signing of a new presidential order, Donald Trump has reclassified cannabis so that the drug will be considered less dangerous. The hope is that this will lead to better and simpler treatment of, among other things, pain.

Previously, cannabis was in the same category as heroin and LSD, but will now instead be grouped with ketamine and certain anabolic steroids.

Cannabis is already legalized in several states, but on a federal level it remains stricter. The drug will remain illegal on the federal level, but the change would allow for expanded research into its potential benefits.

“There are people asking me for this. People who have lived with great pain for decades,” Trump said during the signing at the White House.

The president compared cannabis to prescription painkillers, which have legitimate uses “but which can also cause irreparable harm.”

In addition to reclassifying cannabis, Trump has ordered White House officials to cooperate with Congress to give certain Americans access to cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD. Health officials have also been tasked with developing “methods and models” to study the actual health benefits and risks of CBD.

Broad Support for Legalization

For the new classification to be fully implemented, the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, must first review Trump’s recommendation. Several Republican lawmakers warned against the move and some argued that it could normalize cannabis use.

A survey published in November showed that 64 percent of Americans believe cannabis should be legalized, although support had dropped slightly from previous years due to a 13-point decline among Republicans.