President Trump’s plan to reclassify medical marijuana as a drug in the same category as painkillers could open up opportunities for CBD and hemp-derived food and drinks products.
Trump announced yesterday (18 December) he wants the US government and health agencies to accelerate research into the medical use of marijuana and speed up the process of reclassification from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Schedule I drugs are a category that includes abusive and controlled substances such as heroin. While Schedule III substances have the potential for abuse by users, they are acceptable in medical applications, such as treating pain, but are still classified as controlled substances.
“The Federal Government must improve the research infrastructure for medical marijuana to better serve Americans,” Trump said in a White House statement.
“It is the policy of my administration to increase medical marijuana and CBD research to better inform patients and doctors. It is critical to close the gap between current medical marijuana and CBD use and medical knowledge of risks and benefits, including for specific populations and conditions.”
Trump plans to sign an Executive Order to shift marijuana into the Schedule III bracket for “legitimate medical uses”, he said in the Oval Office yesterday.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData“This reclassification order will make it far easier to conduct marijuana-related medical research, allowing us to study benefits, potential dangers and future treatments.”
The White House statement said hemp-derived cannabinoid products “have shown potential to improve patient symptoms for common ailments”.
That would potentially suggest additional opportunities for producers of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydracannabinol (THC) food and drinks products from a successful reclassification.
“The Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs shall work with the Congress to update the statutory definition of final hemp-derived cannabinoid products to allow Americans to benefit from access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products, while preserving the Congress’s intent to restrict the sale of products that pose serious health risks,” the White House statement read.
“This will include consultation with appropriate executive departments and agencies and authorities to develop a regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including development of guidance on an upper limit on milligrams of THC per serving with considerations on per container limits and CBD-to-THC ratio requirements.”
Trump instructed a number of government departments to “improve access to hemp-derived cannabinoid products in accordance with Federal law and to inform standards of care”.
The Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform said Trump indicated in September last year he would reclassify marijuana if elected president and the Coalition has been “engaging with stakeholders to provide critical information and analysis” toward that endeavour.
The group applauded Trump’s announcement yesterday. “President Trump’s decision to reclassify cannabis is based upon a foundation of unassailable scientific evidence. Cannabis has low abuse potential and proven medical use,” it said.
“Rescheduling will provide a wide range of benefits, including facilitating medical research, signalling to the criminal justice system that cannabis is a low priority, and providing tax relief to struggling small business owners.”
Tilray Brands, which describes itself as a “transformative force at the nexus of cannabis, beverage [and] wellness” also welcomed the development. The Nasdaq-listed company’s portfolio includes the likes of THC-infused Delta-9 beverages, Chowie Wowie chocolate and Bake Sale flour.
Its chairman and CEO Irwin Simon said yesterday: “We believe this landmark decision is a significant catalyst for positive change within the health, wellness, and business communities across the US and a critical, incremental step toward de-scheduling and comprehensive regulation.
“This action aligns regulation with a vast body of scientific and medical data supporting cannabis medical use and safety, economic progress, and a healthcare-focused framework, while creating a more credible foundation for medical cannabis research, clinical development, and regulatory clarity.”
