"Drugs Are Weapons of Mass Destruction"... Trump Eases Marijuana Regulations

Trump Signs Executive Order to Ease Marijuana Regulations

Heroin, LSD, and other Schedule 1 controlled substances to be downgraded to Schedule 3, recognizing medical benefits

Marijuana is displayed at the Great Smoky Cannabis Company's store in Cherokee, North Carolina, USA, last November. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Reclassification to a Lower Regulatory Schedule Expected to Ease Federal Oversight

On December 18 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order easing federal regulations on marijuana. As a result, marijuana will be reclassified as a lower-schedule drug, and federal oversight is expected to become less stringent.

After signing the executive order, President Trump stated, "This decision was made in response to the needs of American patients suffering from severe pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, and neurological conditions."

A volunteer is displaying cannabis seedlings at a medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles, California, USA. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.

A Major Turning Point for the Cannabis Industry, Expansion of Clinical Research Anticipated

Following this measure, the U.S. Department of Justice will begin the process of reclassifying marijuana from its current status as a Schedule 1 controlled substance to Schedule 3. Currently, marijuana is classified alongside heroin and LSD as a Schedule 1 drug, defined as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, making it subject to the strictest regulations. In contrast, Schedule 3 drugs are those recognized for their medical benefits and have a relatively lower potential for abuse.

The reclassification of marijuana is expected to serve as a significant turning point for the cannabis industry, which has long called for clear federal regulatory standards. If regulations are eased, clinical research is likely to expand, and the development of cannabis-based pharmaceuticals reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to become more streamlined. There is also a strong possibility that major pharmaceutical companies will enter the medical marijuana market.

US President Donald Trump signs an executive order easing marijuana regulations in the Oval Office at the White House on the 18th (local time). Washington D.C. (USA) = AP·Yonhap News

In particular, this measure is expected to significantly reduce the tax burden on cannabis-related businesses. This is because the punitive tax provisions that previously applied to companies dealing with federally illegal substances may be relaxed.