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United States to downgrade status of cannabis to 'schedule III' drug

by The Curator

Updated June 02, 2025

United States to downgrade status of cannabis to 'schedule III' drug

The United States government is to downgrade the status of cannabis as a controlled substance, down to a 'schedule III' drug.

It will be moved from 'schedule I', alongside drugs like heroin and LSD, and as a result will be deemed less dangerous than before.

This will be the action of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Schedule III includes substances that are recognized for their medical use, and includes drugs like ketamine and anabolic steriods.

Such a change will require approval from the White House.

It does not equate to the full federal legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes but recognizes its medical applications.

Notably, however, certain US states have already decriminalized cannabis for both medical and recreational use, and in recent years public and cultural perceptions of the substance has shifted significantly.

Significantly, if ratified, the status change will allow more extensive research into cannabis's benefits and risks, and it will bring the substance's medical use under closer regulation.

Cannabis-related stock prices spiked higher in US and Canadian trading in reaction to the news.

Explore Bias:

Media reports are consistent across the facts, though some diverge in focus and perspective.

Some outlets emphasize the political implications, especially noting that its an election year, suggesting that its a strategic move by the Biden administration to gain favor with younger voters.

Other reports look more at the legal and social impacts, and particularly its potential to ease the so-called 'war on drugs'.