Defended by activists on the topic, the measure does not legalize medicinal or recreational use, but changes the regulatory classification
Donald Trump’s acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, signed an order this Thursday (23) that reclassifies medical marijuana licensed by North American states as a lower risk substancein a political change that has long been defended by activists on the issue.
Tailor-made does not legalize medicinal use or recreational marijuana under federal law, but changes its regulatory classification. The decision transfers the substance from List I – which includes drugs without recognized medical use and with a high potential for abuse such as heroin and LSD – to List III, a less restrictive category, of substances such as ketamine e some anabolic steroids.
Possessing marijuana in the United States is a punishable federal crime com fines e prison. Selling or growing marijuana is a more serious offensepunishable by five-year prison sentences to perpetualdepending on the amount of the drug. The executive order does not change that. Some states have their own legislation.
In practice, the decision opens space for tax benefits for licensed medical marijuana operators e reduces barriers to scientific research involving cannabis.
The Trump administration has also said it intends to speed up the broader marijuana reclassification process, with a hearing scheduled for the end of June.
In December, Trump had ordered his team to move forward “as quickly as possible” in reclassifying the substance. On Saturday (18), when signing an executive order related to psychedelics, the president even expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in progressing the issue.
According to Blanche, the Department of Justice is “complying with promise from President Trump” to expand access to medical treatment alternatives.
He also stated that the change will allow for more research into the substance’s safety and effectiveness, which can contribute to safer treatments and more consistent information for doctors and patients.
Medical use of marijuana in the U.S. is now permitted in 40 states and Washington, D.C. Over the past dozen years, the number of jurisdictions that have legalized recreational marijuana for adults has rapidly increased to 24 states and Washington, D.C. As more states have adopted marijuana, more people have started using it.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
