Should medical marijuana be less stringently regulated? A drug policy expert explains what’s at stake

The proposed rescheduling of marijuana could have far-reaching implications in science, medicine and criminal justice. What is the best policy option?

By: Chris Meyers, George Washington University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 28, 2026

Words: 1,500

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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By Chris Meyers, George Washington University

Medical marijuana could soon be reclassified into a medical category that includes prescription drugs like Tylenol with codeine, ketamine and anabolic steroids.

That’s because in December 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reschedule marijuana to a less restricted category, continuing a process initiated by President Joe Biden in 2022.

Currently, marijuana is in the most restrictive class, Schedule I, the same …

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