On December 18, 2025 the White House issued an executive order directing federal agencies to accelerate research on medical marijuana and hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) and to move forward with administrative steps to reschedule marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. The order cites 2023 federal reviews from the Food and Drug Administration and Health and Human Services that found scientific support for marijuana’s medical uses for pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and anorexia related to medical conditions. It notes that chronic pain affects nearly one in four U.S. adults and over one in three seniors, and that 40 states plus the District of Columbia operate medical marijuana programs. The administration says rescheduling and improved research infrastructure are needed to give patients and clinicians clearer guidance on safety, dosing and long-term effects.
Key Takeaways
- The December 18, 2025 order directs the Attorney General to complete rulemaking to reschedule marijuana toward Schedule III in accordance with federal law.
- The White House cites 2023 FDA findings and an HHS recommendation supporting medical uses of marijuana for pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and certain forms of anorexia.
- Federal data referenced in the order: nearly 1 in 4 U.S. adults and more than 1 in 3 seniors report chronic pain; 6 in 10 medical marijuana users report using it for pain.
- More than 30,000 licensed clinicians across 43 U.S. jurisdictions are identified as authorized to recommend medical marijuana to over 6 million registered patients for at least 15 conditions, per the order.
- The Department of Justice published a proposed rule in May 2024 to reschedule marijuana; that proposal received nearly 43,000 public comments and awaits an administrative hearing.
- The order directs HHS, FDA, CMS and NIH to develop real-world evidence research methods and to help set CBD and THC limits and product standards with Congress.
- Usage statistics cited for hemp-derived cannabinoids: about 1 in 5 U.S. adults and nearly 15% of seniors reported past-year CBD use.
Background
Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act, a classification the order describes as inconsistent with recent federal scientific assessments. Schedule I is defined by law as substances with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse; Schedule III denotes lower abuse potential and an acknowledged medical use. In 2023 HHS advised the Drug Enforcement Administration that marijuana be moved to Schedule III; the White House order reiterates that recommendation and the federal agencies’ supporting findings.
The order frames the rescheduling and research push within a wider mismatch: state-level adoption of medical marijuana programs has outpaced federal research and regulation. Forty states plus D.C. have established medical marijuana frameworks, and many patients and clinicians are operating without standardized, FDA-approved guidance on dosing, interactions or long-term safety. The administration points to surveys and clinical studies showing patient-reported benefits and gaps in clinician–patient communication as drivers for a coordinated federal response.
Main Event
The executive order directs the Attorney General to finish the rulemaking process to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III “in the most expeditious manner” permitted by law, citing 21 U.S.C. 811. It also tasks White House staff to work with Congress to refine the statutory definition of hemp-derived cannabinoid products so that appropriate full‑spectrum CBD products remain accessible while products that pose health risks can be restricted. The administration specifically instructs HHS, FDA, CMS and NIH to design research methods that rely on real-world evidence and to consider CBD-to-THC ratios, per-serving THC limits, and per-container thresholds.
The order reiterates federal findings: FDA concluded in 2023 there is credible scientific support for marijuana’s use in treating certain conditions, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse agreed with the FDA’s view that rescheduling should be considered. The White House further notes that the DOJ’s May 2024 proposed rule to reschedule marijuana generated nearly 43,000 public comments and remains pending an administrative law hearing. Agency coordination, the order says, should also address product labeling and accuracy issues raised by studies that found inconsistently labeled commercial CBD products.
Beyond rescheduling, the administration emphasizes research into hemp‑derived cannabinoid products that are currently excluded from CSA control but may contain THC amounts that change their legal status under Public Law 119-37 when its section 781 takes effect. The order charges agencies to develop regulatory guidance and to consult Congress on statutory definitions so that consumers and patients have clearer rules and protections.
Analysis & Implications
Rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III would be a major legal and regulatory shift with practical consequences across research, prescribing and commerce. Schedule III classification could remove some federal barriers to clinical trials, reduce administrative burdens for researchers, and change prescribing and reimbursement pathways. However, rescheduling alone would not automatically create FDA-approved marijuana medicines or erase state–federal inconsistencies; it would instead change legal controls that shape research access and criminal penalties.
Expanding federal research with an emphasis on real-world evidence responds to an urgent knowledge gap: millions of Americans report using medical marijuana or CBD, but high-quality longitudinal studies on effectiveness, dosing, drug–drug interactions and long-term harms in vulnerable groups (seniors, adolescents, people with comorbidities) are limited. The administration’s focus on seniors and people using multiple medications recognizes a practical safety concern—only about 56% of older Americans using marijuana reported discussing it with their health provider, a gap that increases risks of interactions.
Economically and administratively, clearer federal rules could encourage private investment in clinical trials and manufacturing standards, while also raising complex questions about FDA product pathways, insurance coverage and state program alignment. Congress will play a central role: the order asks for statutory updates to the definition of hemp-derived cannabinoid products, so legislative action will be needed to finalize any new regulatory framework and funding for expanded research efforts.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Current (per order) | Post-rescheduling target |
|---|---|---|
| Federal scheduling | Schedule I (no accepted medical use) | Schedule III (accepted medical use; lower abuse potential) |
| Adults reporting chronic pain | Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. adults | — (target: improved treatment guidance) |
| Seniors reporting chronic pain | More than 1 in 3 seniors | — (target: focused research on older adults) |
| Registered medical marijuana patients referenced | More than 6 million across 43 jurisdictions | — (target: better evidence for clinical use) |
| Public comments on DOJ proposed rule | Nearly 43,000 (May 2024 proposed rule) | — (awaiting administrative hearing) |
The table above summarizes the order’s baseline statistics and the regulatory shift it seeks. These numbers, drawn from the executive order’s citations of federal reviews and surveys, frame why the administration argues for expedited rulemaking and expanded research. Translating these policy aims into measurable outcomes will require timelines, research funding, and agency rulemaking details that the order does not fully specify.
Reactions & Quotes
Officials and stakeholders offered cautious support and reservations after the order was released. Below are representative statements, followed by context.
“This directive aims to align federal policy with current science and patient needs by improving research pathways and product standards.”
White House (official statement)
The White House framed the order as a science- and patient-centered response to widespread state-level medical use and agency reviews. The administration emphasized coordination among HHS, FDA, CMS and NIH and a legislative path to clarify hemp product definitions.
“Rescheduling could lower barriers for clinical research, but rigorous trials and quality controls remain essential to inform safe medical use.”
Public health researcher (academic)
Researchers welcomed the potential for expanded study access but stressed that rescheduling would not substitute for randomized clinical trials or robust post-market surveillance. Experts called for clear funding and protocols for long-term, population-specific studies.
“Patients report symptom relief, particularly for chronic pain, but many use products without medical supervision or standardized labeling.”
Patient advocacy group
Advocates highlighted patient-reported benefits and urged the government to expedite research while ensuring product safety and labeling accuracy. They also called for protections to ensure equitable access to therapies shown to be effective.
Unconfirmed
- The precise timeline for completion of the administrative law hearing on DOJ’s May 2024 proposed rule has not been announced and remains subject to agency scheduling.
- Exact statutory language and timing for any congressional changes to hemp-derived cannabinoid definitions are unresolved and will require negotiation between the White House and Congress.
- The order does not specify funding levels or appropriations dates for the expanded research programs; implementation depends on available appropriations and agency planning.
Bottom Line
The December 18, 2025 executive order signals a clear federal push to reconcile evolving state-level medical use of marijuana and hemp-derived CBD with federal research and regulatory policy. By directing rescheduling rulemaking and coordinated agency research initiatives, the administration aims to expand clinical evidence, improve product standards and give clinicians firmer guidance when advising patients, especially older adults and those taking multiple medications.
Yet the order is a starting point rather than a completed policy: rescheduling requires formal rulemaking and administrative hearings, congressional action will likely be needed to adjust statutory definitions for hemp products, and concrete outcomes—FDA approvals, insurance coverage changes, and standardized labeling—will hinge on subsequent agency rules, funding and legislative steps. Stakeholders will be watching for specific timelines, appropriations and the design of the real-world evidence studies the order mandates.