❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order to improve medical marijuana and cannabidiol research.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Congress.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Signed Thursday, December 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
💬KEY QUOTE: “This move was requested by patients suffering from various conditions, including veterans, but recreational use remains unsafe.” – Donald Trump
🎯IMPACT: The Executive Order aims to improve research, access, and guidance for medical marijuana and CBD products.
President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order on Thursday removing federal legal hurdles to medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) research, which will allow patients and healthcare providers to be better informed about alternative treatment options. Under the order, the Attorney General and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) are tasked with expediting the reclassification of marijuana as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Additionally, President Trump’s directive calls for greater White House cooperation with Congress to enact legislation ensuring Americans can access appropriate, full-spectrum CBD products while restricting items that pose health risks. Trump is also tasking the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to begin developing research methods and models to enhance access to hemp-derived cannabinoid products as allowable under federal law.
“This move was requested by patients suffering from various conditions, including veterans, but recreational use remains unsafe,” President Trump remarked after signing the Executive Order at the White House.
Currently, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance, which is defined as having no accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse, and a lack of safety under medical supervision. The rescheduling to Schedule III aligns with a 2023 HHS recommendation that acknowledges marijuana’s medical utility. The reclassification will help facilitate research into its safety and efficacy, addressing the needs of the over six million registered medical marijuana patients in the U.S.
Hemp-derived CBD products, while not controlled under the CSA, face regulatory challenges that limit consistency and consumer protections. Studies indicate that CBD has potential benefits for managing chronic pain and other conditions, but the lack of clear Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines leaves patients and doctors without sufficient information for safe use.
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