Key Takeaways
- The Trump Administration has signed an Executive Order to improve medical marijuana and cannabidiol research, aiming to better inform patients and doctors.
- The Order directs the Attorney General to expedite the rescheduling of marijuana to Schedule III of the Controlled Substance Act (CSA), recognizing its medical use.
- The Administration aims to improve access to hemp-derived cannabinoid products, primarily containing CBD, while ensuring product consistency and consumer protections.
- The Order directs HHS to develop research methods and models to improve access to hemp-derived cannabinoid products and inform standards of care.
- The Trump Administration is committed to ensuring Americans have access to the best medical treatments and research infrastructure in the world.
Introduction to the Executive Order
Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order that will improve medical marijuana and cannabidiol research to better inform patients and doctors. The Order aims to address the long delay in recognizing the medical use of marijuana and to improve research on safety and efficacy. The Order directs the Attorney General to expedite the completion of the process of rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III of the Controlled Substance Act (CSA). This move is consistent with the 2023 recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that recognized for the first time that marijuana has a currently accepted medical use.
Removing Barriers to Research
Rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III will vastly improve research on safety and efficacy. Currently, marijuana is controlled as a Schedule I substance, which is defined as having no currently accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. However, 40 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia have State or locally-sanctioned, regulated medical marijuana programs, and HHS found that 30,000 licensed health care practitioners are authorized to recommend the medical use of marijuana for more than six million registered patients for at least 15 medical conditions. The FDA has reviewed the landscape of medical use of marijuana and found credible scientific support for its use to treat anorexia related to a medical condition, nausea and vomiting, and pain. Chronic pain affects nearly one in four U.S. adults and more than one in three U.S. seniors, and six in 10 people who use medical marijuana report doing so to manage pain.
Improving Access to Cannabidiol Products
President Trump is paving the way for enhanced research and better information on hemp-derived cannabinoid products, helping to inform patients and doctors about their potential role in managing common health conditions. Hemp-derived cannabinoid products, primarily containing CBD, are not controlled substances under the CSA but currently lack a clear FDA regulatory pathway, limiting product consistency and consumer protections. One in five U.S. adults and nearly 15% of seniors reported using CBD in the past year, and clinical studies have shown that chronic pain patients have reported improvements with CBD use. However, the challenging legal landscape for CBD products leaves American patients and doctors without adequate guidance or product safeguards. The Administration is committed to working expeditiously to provide clarity and access as appropriate.
Delivering on Promises to Improve Healthcare
President Trump is committed to ensuring our seniors, our veterans, and all Americans have access to the best medical treatments and research infrastructure in the world. The Trump Administration has announced several initiatives to improve healthcare, including deals with major pharmaceutical manufacturers to bring prices in line with those paid in other developed nations. In February, President Trump signed an Executive Order to ensure patients have access to clear, accurate prices before they receive care. In April, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration announced a series of measures to phase out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply. In May, President Trump signed an Executive Order to increase options for care, benefits, and services for our veterans, including reduced wait times for Veterans Health Administration appointments.
Conclusion and Future Directions
The Trump Administration is accelerating the approval and availability of safe, effective medicines by reducing unnecessary clinical testing for biosimilars—expanding patient options and lowering costs for millions. The historic Working Families Tax Cuts Act included an unprecedented $50 billion investment into transforming healthcare in rural communities and expanded access to Health Savings Accounts that give millions of Americans more control over their healthcare dollars. The Administration is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to the best medical treatments and research infrastructure in the world. By improving medical marijuana and cannabidiol research, the Trump Administration is taking a significant step towards achieving this goal and improving the lives of millions of Americans.
