Trump Pushes for Fast Marijuana Rescheduling

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to move quickly to finalize the federal rescheduling of marijuana, potentially completing the process by the end of January, according to published reports.

The move follows an executive order signed earlier this month that instructs the attorney general to “take all necessary steps” to complete the rulemaking process to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The order calls for the process to be carried out “in the most expeditious manner in accordance with federal law.”

According to The Marijuana Herald, which cited two sources close to the president, Trump privately instructed Bondi to complete the rescheduling process by the end of January. Neither the White House nor the U.S. Department of Justice has publicly confirmed a specific deadline.

While the executive order itself is confirmed, any rescheduling decision must still follow the formal federal rulemaking process led by the Department of Justice in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services. HHS recommended in 2023 that marijuana be moved to Schedule III, but procedural requirements, including publication and review periods, could delay final action.

If finalized, Schedule III status would not legalize marijuana at the federal level. Cannabis would remain illegal under federal law, and state markets would continue operating under the existing patchwork of state regulations.

However, rescheduling would eliminate the federal 280E tax penalty for cannabis businesses, expand access for research and formally recognize accepted medical use.

The administration’s push signals an effort to accelerate the process, though the timeline remains uncertain and any final decision would fall short of full federal legalization.