CBCFEXECUTIVEORDERTRACKER
DateIssued:December18,2025
Topic:CriminalJustice,Health
WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
ThisexecutiveorderreclassifiesmarijuanafromaScheduleIdrug, definedashaving“nocurrentlyacceptedmedicaluse,ahighpotential forabuse,andalackofacceptedsafetyforuseofthedrugunder medicalsupervision”toaScheduleIIIdrug,whichisacceptedfor medicaluseandconsideredtohavelesspotentialforabusethanother controlledsubstances.
Whiletheorderdoesnotdecriminalizeorlegalizemarijuana,itallowsfor morefederallyfundedresearchontheuseofcannabidiol(CBD)and tetrahydrocannabinol(THC)formedicinalpurposes.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
ThisexecutiveorderdirectstheAttorneyGeneral(AG)toinitiatethe rulemakingprocesstoreschedulemarijuanatoaScheduleIIIdrugunder theControlledSubstancesAct.
TheorderalsoinstructstheAssistanttothePresidentandDeputyChiefof StaffforLegislative,Political,andPublicAffairstoamendthedefinitionof hemp-derivedcannabinoidproductstoexpandAmericans’accessto CBDproducts.
TheorderacknowledgesthatCongresshasavestedinterestinrestricting thesaleofproductsthatposeserioushealthrisks.ItinstructstheAssistant tothePresidentandDeputyChiefofStaffforLegislative,Political,and PublicAffairstocollaboratewithCongressandrelevantexecutive departmentsandfederalagenciestodeveloparegulatoryframeworkfor hemp-derivedcannabinoidproducts.
TheorderinstructstheSecretaryofHealthandHumanServices,the CommissionerofFoodandDrugs,theAdministratoroftheCentersfor MedicareandMedicaidServices,andtheDirectoroftheNational InstitutesofHealthtodevelopresearchmethodstoimproveaccessto hemp-derivedcannabinoidproducts.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
Thereclassificationoutlinedinthisexecutiveorderalleviatesfinancial burdenfrombusinessownersthatgroworsellcannabis.Section280Eofthe U.S.taxcodeprohibitsbusinessthat“traffic”ScheduleIorScheduleII controlledsubstancesfromtakingstandardbusinessdeductionsand receivingtaxcreditsandraisesthefederaltaxratesonlicensedcannabis operatorsbetween50%and70%.Priortothisorder,cannabisfarmersand entrepreneurswerebannedfromaccessingfederaltaxdeductionsfor payroll,healthinsurance,andotherprofessionalexpenses,eveninstates thathavelegalizedmarijuana.WhentheDepartmentofJusticerulemaking processiscomplete,thesebusinessownerswillbeabletoaccessthefulltax benefitsofentrepreneurship,whichwillalsoreducethebarrierstoentryfor prospectiveentrepreneurs.InthewakeofPresidentTrumpdismantlingthe MinorityBusinessDevelopmentAgencyandeliminatingDEIApoliciesinthe federalgovernment,thispolicywillsupportBlackbusinessownersseeking tostakealargerclaiminanindustrythathasdisproportionatelyimpacted BlackAmericans.
A2020studyfromtheACLUfoundthatBlackpeopleareoverthreetimes morelikelytobearrestedformarijuanapossessionthantheirwhite counterparts,despitesimilarconsumptionrates.In2023,BlackAmericans, whorepresentroughly14%ofthepopulation,madeup41%ofmarijuana possessionarrests.BecauseScheduleIIIdrugchargescarryasignificantly smallerpenaltythanScheduleIdrugcharges,thisreclassificationwilllead toareductioninlong-termincarcerationformarijuana-relateddrug offenses.However,thisexecutiveorderisnotretroactive;thousandsofBlack Americanswillservelengthyfederalsentencesformarijuanapossession becausecannabiswasaScheduleIdrugatthetimeoftheirarrest.
Over40stateshavelegalizedmarijuanainsomecapacity,andnearlyhalf havelegalizedmedicinalmarijuana.Inaddition,asaScheduleIIIdrug, marijuanamaynowbestudiedinfederallyfundedresearchprojectsand clinicaltrials.ThisexecutiveorderacknowledgesthebenefitsofCBDand THCuseinpainmanagementandothermedicalcontexts,makesiteasier forAmericanstoaccesscannabisproducts,andwillpavethewayforthe expansionoflegalmarijuanausageintheUS.However,untilcannabisuseis legalizedordecriminalizedonthefederallevel,wewillcontinuetoseeBlack Americansarrestedandincarceratedatinequitablyhighrates.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
SenatorCoryBooker,animpassionateadvocateforcriminaljustice reform,issuedastatementinresponsetothisexecutiveorder:
“IampleasedthatPresidentTrumphasdirectedtheDOJtocomplete therulemakingprocessandimplementthischange.Thechange opensthedoorforexpandedscientificresearch,allowingmedical professionalsandinstitutionstostudyitspotentialbenefitsandrisks withfarfewerregulatoryhurdles.However,reschedulingcannabis alonewillnoteliminatetheharmsoffederalprohibition.Millionsof Americans,especiallyBlackandBrowncommunities,willcontinueto facecriminalpenaltiesforrecreationaluseorforusingmedical marijuanaproductsthatlackfederalapproval.Thousandswillremain inprisonsaroundthecountryformarijuana-relatedoffenses.Norwill thischangerestoreaccesstopublichousingornutritionassistancefor peoplewhousemarijuanarecreationally.”FullStatement
In2025,Rep.YvetteD.Clarke,ChairoftheCongressionalBlackCaucus, pennedalettertoPresidentJoeBidenaskinghimtoreclassifymarijuana toaScheduleIIIdrug.
“Thisisanimportantstepforwardtoresolveacriticalissuethathas hadmaterialconsequencesforBlackAmericansforfartoolong.The CongressionalBlackCaucusandscoresofotherBlackleadershave beenattheforefrontofshapingthesocialandpoliticaldiscoursethat hasledto39legalstatecannabismarketsaroundthecountry.We havefoughttirelesslyforBlackAmericans,whohavebeenthemost harmedbythewaronmarijuana,tohaveachancetoparticipatein whatisnowastate-licensedindustry.”FullStatement