The Biden administration had begun the rescheduling process but left the matter unfinished by the time Trump assumed office. In August, Trump signaled he was open to finishing where Biden left off.
Marijuana will remain an illegal drug under federal law, and Trump stressed he was not decriminalizing it.
"I want to emphasize that the order I am about to sign is not the legalization or it doesn't legalize marijuana in any way, shape or form, and in no way sanctions its use as a recreational drug," Trump said in a press briefing from the Oval Office.
Trump cast the move as a commonsense measure, rooted in popular opinion. He warned against addictive risks of marijuana— one of the officials who joined him at the event was Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
"If it's abused, it's never safe to use powerful, controlled substances in recreational matters, and especially in this case, if you take a look illegal and unregulated drugs, very, very bad thing," Trump said.
The move drew immediate praise from the cannabis industry, but quick condemnation from the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, which indicated it would sue if the rescheduling process is finalized.
Even as dozens of GOP senators signed a letter opposing the move, Trump's announcement marks a significant shift in how Republicans view marijuana.
Trump also announced a pilot program that would allow Medicare beneficiaries to be reimbursed for some CBD treatments, beginning in April.
A Schedule I substance is considered to have no currently accepted medical uses. A Schedule III substance is believed to have a "moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence."
But even though the move wouldn't decriminalize marijuana, opponents said rescheduling would lead to increased use because it would allow cannabis companies to deduct standard business expenses from their taxes— including advertising.
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