The reclassification of marijuana could reach a new milestone, according to a press conference held by President Trump on Aug. 11. However, the specifics of the milestone remain unclear.
Amid DEA reclassification struggles, Trump has not formally spoken about the subject post-election, despite campaigning on the subject.
In fact, the first echo of a conversation regarding the reclassification came when a reporter brought up the subject in a press conference last week.
In response, the President said, “It’s a very complicated subject,” further stating that in terms of marijuana, “I’ve heard great things having to do with medical (marijuana) and bad things having to do with just about everything else.”
Regardless, an announcement about reclassification is slated to occur in the coming weeks.
Public support for broad legalization has risen over the last few years. A survey from AP VoteCast revealed that 6 in 10 registered U.S voters support the legalization of recreational cannabis. The public shift in favor of the legalization of marijuana is remarkable, yet ballot initiatives to legalize cannabis in states Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota have been unsuccessful.
If marijuana were to be reclassified, marijuana would not become fully legal in the United States. Instead, initiatives such as cannabis research and cannabis taxes will face more streamlined regulations. While this could carve out a pathway for an expansion of the business and science sectors of the cannabis industry, cannabis will still be federally illegal.
This article appears in Aug 14-21, 2025.