Lawmakers, State Officials, Advocates And Industry React...

President Donald Trump’s historic move to direct the reclassification of
marijuana on Thursday has elicited a wave of positive feedback from top
lawmakers, state officials, advocates and industry stakeholders—reflecting
the uniquely bipartisan way cannabis reform has bridge political divides
during an especially divisive time.

While several Democratic lawmakers have made clear that simply moving
cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act
(CSA) does not go far enough, even some of Trump’s sharpest critics have
generally agreed that the executive order directing the incremental reform
is a step in the right direction.

The order directs the attorney general to complete a rescheduling process
that was initiated under the Biden administration. The reclassification
wouldn’t legalize marijuana, but it would loosen research restrictions,
allow cannabis businesses to take federal tax deductions and symbolically
recognize that the plant holds medical value—breaking from the federal
government’s decades-long position that it is therapeutically ineffective
with a high abuse potential.

The order also has implications for the hemp market, with a call to
reevaluate how the crop is defined under a newly enacted spending bill that
stakeholders say would ultimately eradicate the industry by banning most
consumable cannabinoid products.

*Here’s how people are reacting to the rescheduling news:*

*Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)*

“Though a step in the right direction, more must be done to decriminalize
cannabis, ease overly restrictive banking regulations that stall industry
progress in states where it is legal, and rectify the harms done by the War
on Drugs. I remain committed to the SAFER Banking Act and the Cannabis
Administration and Opportunity Act to accomplish these goals.”

This is a step in the right direction—but more work must be done to
decriminalize cannabis, ease overly restrictive banking regulations that
stall industry progress in states where it is legal, and rectify the harms
done by the War on Drugs.

I remain committed to the SAFER… https://t.co/8vdDvD88h1

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 18, 2025

*Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)*

The federal war on drugs has failed for decades because Washington insists
on controlling what it cannot fix.

President Trump recognizes that reality, and I applaud him for ignoring the
tired “reefer madness” rhetoric and moving forward with rescheduling.@POTUS
https://t.co/79sPbSgQb3

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 18, 2025

*Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH)*

Proud to see @POTUS deliver on his commitment to the American people with
the EO to reschedule cannabis. This is a win for patients—especially
seniors & veterans—who deserve clear info, access to care, and choice with
their doctors.

This common-sense action ends blocked… https://t.co/rnNqrSejiA

— Dave Joyce (@RepDaveJoyce) December 18, 2025

*Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV)*

Okay. Now let’s de-schedule cannabis entirely. https://t.co/aqLczekQHF

— Dina Titus (@repdinatitus) December 18, 2025

*Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL)*

For years, I’ve been pushing common-sense legislation to reschedule
marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 3 substance. (There’s no logical
reason why it should have been treated the same as drugs like heroin or LSD
for the last 50+ years!)

Rescheduling marijuana is a… pic.twitter.com/3IKt53Phef

— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) December 18, 2025

*Former Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)*

“I am delighted that at Long last there will be some federal movement on
rescheduling… This is not everything we want, but it is a huge step
forward, dealing with banking, taxation and the mindset for reform. I have
long felt that this could be the break, the crack in the dam that allows
the waters of reform to rush out. It is frustrating that is taken this
long, but it is hugely significant and should not be underestimated about
leading to a chain of events for more meaningful reforms.”

*Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D)*

“To be blunt, it’s far past time for the federal government to catch up to
Colorado and many other states and get rid of arcane federal policies on
cannabis that aren’t based in reality and hurt Colorado small businesses
and public safety. I thank the President and am pleased that they are
finally taking this step to begin the process to reschedule.

For years Colorado has been a national leader in smart and safe cannabis
policy that has virtually eliminated illegal markets, ensured safe use, and
generated over a billion dollars for education. Colorado’s cannabis
industry is the gold standard ensuring that products are safe and
regulated. It’s good to see the federal government finally following suit,
but it’s frustrating it’s taken this long and there is much more to do for
a full descheduling.”

*Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board*

“As President Trump signs an executive order reclassifying cannabis, the
Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board is prepared to navigate the changes ahead
alongside industry and State lawmakers. The CCB will continue to regulate
licensing matters and oversee compliance measures from seed-to-sale,
upholding public health and safety.”

*Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency Executive Director Brian Hanna*

“While we are still assessing the details of the order, this development
has the potential to move the federal marijuana policy debate forward after
years of advocacy by patients, businesses, and states across the country.
Rescheduling marijuana carries important implications – but also clear
limitations – for state-regulated markets. That distinction is critical for
policymakers, media, and the public to understand as this process continues…

We look forward to completing our review of the executive order and
continuing to work with our federal partners to ensure that any change in
classification is accompanied by clear guidance and thoughtful
implementation that meaningfully addresses long-standing barriers –
particularly in banking, research, social equity, and taxation – while
preserving the authority, safety, and integrity of state-regulated systems
like Michigan’s.”

*Pennsylvania State Sen. Sharif Street (D)*

For more than a decade, I’ve led efforts in Pennsylvania to modernize our
cannabis laws because prohibition has failed—especially for Black and Brown
communities who have borne the brunt of criminalization. (2/4)

— Senator Sharif Street (@SenSharifStreet) December 18, 2025

*NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano*

“The Administration’s order calling to remove the cannabis plant from its
Schedule I classification validates the experiences of tens of millions of
Americans, as well as those of tens of thousands of physicians, who have
long recognized that cannabis possesses legitimate medical utility. It
wasn’t long ago that federal officials were threatening to seize doctors’
medical licenses just for discussing medical cannabis with their patients.
This directive certainly marks a long overdue change in direction.

But while such a move potentially provides some benefits to patients, and
veterans especially, it still falls well short of the changes necessary to
bring federal marijuana policy into the 21st century. Specifically,
rescheduling fails to harmonize federal marijuana policy with the cannabis
laws of most states, particularly the 24 states that have legalized its use
and sale to adults — thereby leaving those who produce, dispense, possess,
or use marijuana in compliance with state laws in jeopardy of federal
prosecution. In order to rectify this state/federal conflict, and in order
to provide state governments with the explicit authority to establish their
own cannabis regulatory policies — like they already possess with respect
to alcohol — cannabis must be removed from the Controlled Substances Act
altogether. Doing so would affirm America’s longstanding principles of
federalism and appeal to Americans’ deep-rooted desires to be free from
undue government intrusion into their daily lives.

Nevertheless, as a first step forward, this federal policy change
dramatically shifts the political debate surrounding cannabis.
Specifically, it delegitimizes many of the tropes historically exploited by
opponents of marijuana policy reform. Claims that cannabis poses unique
harms to health, or that it’s not useful for treating chronic pain and
other ailments, have now been rejected by the very federal agencies that
formerly perpetuated them. Going forward, these specious allegations should
be absent from any serious conversations surrounding legalizing and
regulating cannabis. Finally, he added: “It is anticipated that
reclassification will also provide tax fairness to state-licensed
businesses — allowing them, for the first time, to take traditional tax
deductions. This change levels the playing field and lowers these entities’
costs of doing business. This change also likely benefits cannabis
consumers by resulting in lower overall prices for state-licensed retail
products, further incentivizing them to abandon the underground market.”

*Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Adam J. Smith*

“While MPP welcomes the President’s proposal to move cannabis from Schedule
I to Schedule III, neither the plant itself nor its naturally occurring
component cannabinoids belong on the schedule at all. We hope this move to
Schedule III truly does open up medical research, that it inspires states
to guarantee access to safe, regulated cannabinoids for patients who
desperately need them, and that the regulated industry might finally be
treated more fairly under the federal tax code.

But a move to Schedule III does nothing to end hundreds of thousands of
possession arrests each year, nor does it do anything to fix the untenable,
ongoing disconnect between federal prohibition and the regulated state
markets under which more than half of American adults live. We are pleased
that the President is taking this important step, but it is only a step. It
is long past time to deschedule cannabis entirely and end nearly a century
of failed prohibition.”

*The Weldon Project’s Weldon Angelos, who received a marijuana pardon from
Trump*

“President Trump’s decision to reschedule cannabis is a major first step
toward ending prohibition, and while more work remains, including clemency
for those still incarcerated for cannabis, this is a moment worth
recognizing and celebrating.”

*Last Prisoner Project Director of Strategic Initiatives Jason Ortiz*

“President Trump’s decision to reschedule cannabis is a historic step that
reflects the will of the American people. However, moving cannabis to a
lower schedule does nothing for the tens of thousands of Americans still
locked behind bars for actions that are now legal in most of the country.
Thankfully, President Trump has demonstrated he is willing to act boldly to
correct outdated policies. By pairing rescheduling with clemency for people
incarcerated for cannabis, he can cement his legacy as the leader who has
done more for cannabis justice than any other president in American
history.”

*Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition Board Director of Policy Cat Packer*

“The American people overwhelmingly support legalization and an end to
federal marijuana criminalization. Rescheduling marijuana continues federal
criminalization, regardless of state law, and falls far short of the
reforms our communities need and deserve.”

*American Legion National Commander Dan K. Wiley*

“This is a really important executive order, and The American Legion has
long advocated for this change. Cannabis being classified schedule 1 blocks
large-scale, randomized clinical trials examining cannabis’ impact on PTSD,
TBI, sleep disruption, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain…conditions
strongly associated with veteran suicide.

Reclassification is not legalization and does not mandate use. It simply
removes federal barriers to research and informed decision-making. It
promotes transparency, clinician oversight, informed consent, and honest
patient-provider discussions – reducing unsafe self-medication. Supporting
reclassification demonstrates the Legion’s commitment to science,
oversight, and saving lives through evidence-based public health policy.”

*National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers President Andrew Birrell*

“Rescheduling cannabis is an incremental, imperfect improvement. While
moving this drug from the Schedule I shadow is a small step off the cliff
of cruel prohibition, it’s not the lifeline for justice we desperately
need. A reclassified schedule still leaves a web of harmful criminal
penalties intact, meaning the War on Drugs will continue to ensnare
Americans in a failed punishment scheme. The current federal approach has
demonstrably failed to enhance public safety, instead diverting taxpayer
dollars to enforcement while maintaining needlessly harsh sentences.

This over-criminalization has created devastating collateral
consequences—the loss of access to housing, employment, and education—for
individuals and families. Crucially, the enforcement of federal cannabis
law has been defined by profound racial disparities. Black Americans are
nearly four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than
white Americans, despite comparable usage rates. Even with declining
federal prosecutions for possession and trafficking, the average sentence
for federal marijuana felonies remains a staggering 37 months, with 70% of
those offenders having little or no criminal history.”

*UFCW International President Milton Jones*

“The Administration’s plan to reclassify cannabis amounts to a tax giveaway
for cannabis business owners without any protections for the workers who
power this industry. Similar to the Biden Administration’s plan, this
effort risks creating an industry that reinforces the inequities present
throughout our economy. Hundreds of thousands of cannabis workers will
still face the same challenges that they do now, including the lack of
access to proper job training and health and safety protections.

Reclassifying cannabis from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug ignores the
needs of workers and wastes the chance to finally deliver justice for the
families impacted by the War on Drugs. Cannabis must be federally
decriminalized, with a regulatory framework to ensure that cannabis
workers, from seed to sale, have the health, safety, and labor protections
they deserve.”

*National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) Director of Government
Relations Michelle Rutter Friberg*

“Medical professionals, patients, and millions of Americans have long
understood that cannabis has accepted medical use and does not belong in
the same category as the most dangerous controlled substances. By taking
this step, the Administration is recognizing the realities of today’s
regulated markets and the work states have done to responsibly oversee them…

This is meaningful progress, but it cannot be the final word. NCIA urges
lawmakers to build on today’s decision by establishing a framework that
respects states’ rights, supports responsible operators, and provides 
clear federal enforcement guidelines in order to provide certainty to the
thousands of businesses operating openly and in compliance with state law.
NCIA will continue working to ensure that this industry can thrive under
policies that are fair, consistent, and reflective of modern realities.”

*Dutchie Chairman and CEO Tim Barash, who also serves as co-chair of the
Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform*

“Moving cannabis to Schedule III represents a fundamental shift in how the
federal government and society at large view the plant, transforming the
way the cannabis industry operates. This change will empower the 425,000
people working in the US cannabis industry and bring in new talent,
capital, and awareness to an industry that has a positive impact on
millions of people’s lives…

One of the most immediate impacts of rescheduling is the end of the 280E
tax penalty, removing a long-standing barrier to growth. This change will
also bring in large institutions and services across the business and
banking world, allowing this major US industry to have the same support as
the rest of our economy. When federal policy catches up to reality, it
changes how consumers, families, and patients think about cannabis. That
matters just as much as the business impact.”

*American Trade Association for Cannabis & Hemp (ATACH) President Michael
Bronstein*

“Today’s decision to move cannabis to Schedule III marks the most
significant federal shift in cannabis policy in over 50 years. After
decades of outdated policy, the federal government has finally acknowledged
what we as a movement have said for a generation: that marijuana can be
medicine. It opens doors to expanded medical research and helps reduce the
stigma and provide for better patient outcomes. This change also brings
long overdue equal tax treatment by lifting draconian tax penalties on
state-legal businesses, and allowing reinvestment in local jobs and
communities. Today is a celebration, but our work is not done and we will
build on this momentum to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework to
fully end prohibition in America.”

*Cresco Labs CEO Charlie Bachtell, who also serves as chair of U.S.
Cannabis Roundtable*

“The U.S. Cannabis Roundtable commends President Trump and the Trump
Administration for moving to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III drug.
Once completed, this shift will mark a dramatic break with the failed
policies of the past. Cannabis has widely accepted medical uses and low
abuse potential. It never belonged at Schedule I. After more than five
decades, this untenable status quo is finally coming to an end.”

*Trulieve Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers*

“This bold and historic direction from President Trump represents long
overdue change and a major milestone in cannabis reform. Trulieve is
grateful for the decisive action taken by the Administration that
acknowledges the medical benefits of cannabis, supports licensed and
regulated operators, and allows law enforcement agencies to prosecute bad
actors. We are committed to supporting the Administration throughout this
process.”

Some days make all of the hard work worth it. Today is one of those days!
Thank you @POTUS for making history by rescheduling marijuana to Schedule
III. It has been an honor to work with you to get this done for the
millions of Americans who use medical cannabis and who deserve…
pic.twitter.com/TynVYAsZgL

— Kim Rivers (@rivers_kim) December 18, 2025

*Scotts Miracle-Gro Company CEO Jim Hagedorn*

“With 39 states already legalizing cannabis in some form, rescheduling to a
lower level drug on the federal level has been long overdue. President
Trump deserves credit and praise for taking this bold action, as it
reflects the will of the people and sets the stage for much-needed research
into the medical use of cannabis.

Just as importantly, this will help deliver a blow to the illicit cannabis
market by strengthening the financial viability of the legal and regulated
industry that employs over 425,000 people and contributes $100 billion to
the economy.”

*Curaleaf Chairman and CEO Boris Jordan*

“Curaleaf thanks President Trump for acting on his commitment to move
forward with cannabis reclassification and we express our deep gratitude to
him for this bold move. Moving the plant from Schedule I to Schedule III
acknowledges what has been known for thousands of years, that the cannabis
plant has medicinal properties. This policy shift by the United States
government sets a precedent for how cannabis should be viewed globally and
we eagerly await Attorney General Pam Bondi’s prompt execution of President
Trump’s order.”

*Brian Vicente, founding partner at Vicente LLP*

“This monumental change will have a massive, positive effect on thousands
of state-legal cannabis businesses around the country. One dominating
inequity cannabis businesses face is the inability to deduct regular
business expenses, since they sell a Schedule I substance. Rescheduling
releases cannabis businesses from the crippling tax burden they have been
shackled with and allow these businesses to grow and prosper. We work with
hundreds of licensed cannabis businesses, and the ability to deduct
ordinary operating costs under the Schedule III proposal is a game-changer
for them.”

*Cato Institute Senior Fellow Jeffrey Singer*

“This is a positive step in the right direction, but it won’t significantly
change things for people who use cannabis medically or recreationally in
states where it is legal. It might make it easier to conduct medical
research on cannabis, and it could help state-licensed cannabis retailers
cover business costs, but overall, it just rearranges the landscape of
cannabis prohibition.”

*Smart Approaches To Marijuana (SAM) President Kevin Sabet*

“This rule, if finalized, will herald a public health disaster. It’s a full
betrayal of the President’s promise to keep all Americans safe and healthy.
This is a giant gift to Big Marijuana and its pushers
who are now more incentivized to target children
with their highly addictive products.

Thankfully, this decision does not legalize marijuana, but it gifts the
industry with more than $2 billion in tax write-offs at a time when their
advertising is inflicting carnage on America’s families. In reality, this
is a pyrrhic victory for the industry. They have failed in their attempt to
legalize their products, banking, and they were dealt a huge blow with the
new law outlawing Delta-8 and other synthetic pot products. In addition,
they are facing increased pressure in legalized states, with several now
considering a rollback of such policies. The implications for marijuana
products remain unclear, since now the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
will have enforcement jurisdiction over them in a way only the Drug
Enforcement Administration currently does.”

*U.S. Hemp Roundtable General Counsel Jonathan Miller*

“The U.S. hemp industry is deeply grateful to President Trump for issuing
his strong pro-hemp Executive Order today. While the headlines of the
announcement will focus on marijuana rescheduling – which is a positive in
itself, for any cannabis reform benefits the entire plant – we are
especially pleased to see the provisions that direct the White House staff
and urge Congress to ensure access to hemp-derived, full-spectrum CBD
products, a lifeblood of the industry.

We are also thrilled to see the development of a model that would allow a
number of Medicare beneficiaries to receive CBD under doctor recommendation
at no cost. We consider this Executive Order to be a direct rebuke to the
hemp ban that was malignly attached to legislation that reopened
government. This also gives strong impetus to efforts to extend the ban’s
moratorium an additional 18 months to allow proper time for Congress and
the Trump Administration to develop the regulatory framework that ensures
the safe provision of hemp products while cracking down on the bad actors
peddling the unsafe products that the Executive Order calls out. We look
forward to working with the President, his staff, HHS, and Congress in the
coming months to ensure the bipartisan vision of a safe, legal, and
regulated hemp extract industry.”

*American Trucking Associations’ Vice President of Safety Policy Brenna
Lyles*

“While we do not hold a formal position on marijuana legalization or
deregulation, we are concerned about the safety risks of rescheduling
marijuana without explicit safeguards to preserve the testing authority and
technical requirements that apply to DOT-regulated, safety-sensitive
workers. A safe driver is a qualified driver. And a qualified driver is
drug- and alcohol-free. Motor carriers must retain reliable, enforceable
tools to ensure they are not putting unqualified drivers behind the wheel.

Without clear measures to ensure DOT’s drug- and alcohol-testing program
retains—and is equipped to execute—marijuana testing authority, such a
federal policy shift could have serious consequences for highway safety and
the integrity of the national transportation network. This risk is
exacerbated by the fact that there is currently no proven, widely accepted
standard to determine marijuana impairment at roadside or before a driver
begins operating a vehicle, making it far more difficult to prevent
impaired driving.
The stakes are not theoretical. Marijuana accounts for nearly 60 percent of
all positive drug tests among commercial drivers subject to DOT testing
requirements.

We appreciate the Department of Transportation’s ongoing commitment to
highway safety and its work to strengthen driver qualification and
enforcement standards. We urge DOT to proactively coordinate with HHS, DOJ,
and Congress to ensure that any federal policy shift preserves a holistic
approach to safety, one that maintains the authority, tools, and technical
capacity necessary to keep impaired and unqualified drivers off our roads.”

*Boxer Mike Tyson*

Thank you @POTUS @realDonaldTrump for rescheduling cannabis. This decision
reflects listening to people across the country and taking a practical step
toward modernizing outdated policies. It supports American workers,
families, and businesses, and allows over 500,000 existing…

— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) December 18, 2025

*Former NFL Player Ricky Williams, who is a co-founder of Project Champion*

“For over 50 years, cannabis has been wrongly classified alongside the most
dangerous substances in America. This Executive Order represents a
long-overdue recognition that cannabis has legitimate medical value and
that patients deserve policies grounded in science, compassion, and
reality.”

The post Lawmakers, State Officials, Advocates And Industry React To
Trump’s Marijuana Rescheduling Order appeared first on Marijuana Moment.