Trump Expected to Order Marijuana Reclassification; What It Could Mean for Florida
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order as soon as Monday directing federal agencies to pursue the reclassification of marijuana, a move that could mark one of the most significant shifts in federal cannabis policy in decades.
According to reports, the order would instruct the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to move forward with a process to reclassify marijuana under the federal Controlled Substances Act. Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule I drug, a category reserved for substances deemed to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
The reclassification effort would likely seek to move marijuana to Schedule III, a less restrictive category that includes drugs recognized for medical use and subject to federal regulation.
Administration officials caution that an executive order would not immediately change federal law. Instead, it would begin a regulatory process that could take months and face legal and political challenges.
Even if marijuana is reclassified, it would not be legalized nationwide. Recreational marijuana would remain illegal under federal law, and states would continue to control their own cannabis policies.
However, rescheduling could ease restrictions on research, reduce regulatory barriers, and bring financial relief to cannabis businesses operating legally under state law.
Financial markets reacted swiftly to reports of the pending order, with cannabis-related stocks rising on expectations of looser federal oversight.
For Florida residents, the immediate effects would be limited.
Florida already allows medical marijuana, but recreational use remains illegal. Voters narrowly rejected a constitutional amendment legalizing adult-use marijuana in 2024 after it failed to meet the state’s 60% approval threshold.
Federal reclassification would not override Florida law. Possession, sale, and use of marijuana outside the state’s medical program would remain illegal unless state lawmakers or voters act to change the law.
Local and state law enforcement in Florida would continue enforcing existing marijuana laws. While federal authorities might place less emphasis on marijuana enforcement if the drug is reclassified, state criminal penalties would remain in place.
Task forces targeting illegal cultivation and trafficking would likely continue operations unless further federal or state policy changes are enacted.
Florida’s medical marijuana industry could see meaningful benefits if reclassification moves forward.
Cannabis businesses currently face high federal tax burdens and limited access to traditional banking services because of marijuana’s Schedule I status. Reclassification could ease those restrictions, allowing companies to deduct business expenses and potentially gain better access to financial institutions.
Industry analysts say those changes could encourage new investment and expansion within Florida’s regulated medical cannabis market.
A federal move to reclassify marijuana could also reshape Florida’s political landscape. Advocates for legalization say the shift may add momentum to future ballot initiatives or legislative efforts, even if immediate changes are unlikely.
Opponents argue that marijuana policy should remain firmly under state control and caution against interpreting reclassification as an endorsement of widespread use.
The executive order, if signed, would begin a formal rule-making process involving federal health and law enforcement agencies. That process could take months and may face legal challenges before any changes take effect.
For now, Floridians should expect no immediate changes to state marijuana laws — but the federal move could signal a turning point that shapes future debates over cannabis policy both in Florida and nationwide.