Moving cannabis to Schedule III — a less-restrictive classification for drugs — would represent a very important shift in how the federal government treats cannabis research, in that it would officially state that cannabis has medical use. This landmark decision would encourage some of the largest scientific investment in cannabis research to date and help build some of the strongest evidence of the value of cannabis-based therapies.
Cannabis has existed in a complicated space in medicine, policy and public perception for decades.
However, since the Controlled Substances Act was enacted in 1970, cannabis has been classified as a Schedule I substance. This category is associated with the highest level of restriction, including substances such as heroin, MDMA, and LSD.
Federal law classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug. Separately, the FDA evaluates and approves individual cannabinoid medications for specific medical conditions. Independently, states can authorize cannabis for medical or adult use under their own laws, even though cannabis remains illegal under federal law.
Federal law currently classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug. (Image credit: Martin Deja via Getty Images)
Rescheduling would be a boon for research
For a few years, federal officials have recommended moving cannabis to Schedule III, which includes drugs with accepted medical uses that are subject to fewer federal restrictions. Ketamine and anabolic steroids, like testosterone, are examples. Compared with Schedule I substances, Schedule III drugs are considered to have a lower potential for abuse and can be prescribed for accepted medical uses under federal law.
Evidence is limited, in part, because for decades researchers studying cannabis have faced regulatory hurdles that extend beyond those encountered with many other controlled substances.
Additionally, federal restrictions have historically limited researchers' access to cannabis products that reflect those people regularly use, such as commercially available flower, vape products and edible formulations.
Federal restrictions have historically limited researchers' access to cannabis products that reflect those people regularly use, such as commercially available flower, vape products and edible formulations.
Such gold-standard studies would better evaluate cannabis' potential benefits and risks, as well its effects in specific medical conditions and appropriate dosing for each. This evidence could, in turn, help reduce the stigma associated with cannabis use.
What rescheduling won't accomplish
It would not automatically convert existing state cannabis programs into the conventional prescription model used for most Schedule III drugs. And it would not immediately resolve the complexities surrounding state medical cannabis programs, which operate outside the traditional FDA-approved medication pathway.
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In short, the greatest benefit of moving cannabis to Schedule III would not be the policy change itself; it would be the opportunity to build a stronger evidence base for cannabis science and medicine. Policymakers may open the door to Schedule III, but researchers, clinicians and regulatory agencies will determine whether this opportunity will actually lead to the appropriate and meaningful advances in cannabis science and medicine.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
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