Trump Executive Order Pushes Cannabis Rescheduling to Schedule III
President Trump issued Executive Order 14067 on December 18, 2025, directing the expedited rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, a move that could impact taxes and research for state-legal cannabis businesses in the trucking and logistics sectors.
Background on the Executive Order
The order, titled “Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research,” instructs the attorney general to accelerate the ongoing Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) rulemaking process. This follows a prior effort four months earlier to enable greater research and investment. As of April 20, 2026, the DEA review remains underway, with a public hearing pending and no final decision announced.
Reports from Axios, MJBizDaily, and Reuters indicate the Trump administration anticipates completing the rescheduling as early as the announcement date, based on sources close to the process.
Implications of Schedule III Classification
Rescheduling would shift cannabis from Schedule I—alongside substances like heroin and LSD—to Schedule III, which includes drugs such as anabolic steroids, ketamine, and codeine. This change would not legalize cannabis federally, nor permit adult-use sales or interstate commerce.
Potential effects include reduced tax burdens under Internal Revenue Code Section 280E for state-legal operators and improved access to financial services, relevant for cannabis transporters and carriers navigating federal banking restrictions.
Industry and Regulatory Context
- The process builds on stalled progress since the initial rescheduling proposal, amid ongoing state-level variations like Ohio’s March 20, 2026, law on marijuana and intoxicating hemp.
- Federal moves could address hemp-derived product loopholes, consolidating legal and illicit markets without immediate legalization.
- THC potency in cannabis has risen from about 4% in the 1970s to over 20% today, influencing handling and transportation considerations for compliant carriers.
Hammerdown Headlines will monitor DEA developments for trucking compliance impacts.