President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal authorities to reclassify marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act, marking a significant change in United States drug policy and easing long-standing federal restrictions on cannabis.

The order instructs the Department of Justice to move marijuana from its previous top-tier classification to a lower schedule, reflecting updated assessments of its medical use and risk profile.

The reclassification is intended to expand scientific and medical research, reduce regulatory burdens, and bring federal policy closer to the reality of state-level cannabis laws, where medical marijuana is now legal in a majority of states.

Administration officials stressed that the move does not amount to federal legalisation of recreational cannabis, nor does it override existing state or federal enforcement powers.

By shifting marijuana to a lower category, the order is expected to make it easier for researchers to study potential therapeutic uses, including pain management and other medical applications.

It may also reduce certain tax and compliance pressures on state-licensed cannabis businesses, while keeping clear federal guardrails in place.

The executive action represents one of the most consequential federal steps on cannabis in decades, signalling a pragmatic recalibration of policy focused on science, patient access, and regulatory clarity rather than ideological positions on drug use.