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Regulation Score 68 Bullish

US Justice Department Poised to Reclassify Marijuana to Schedule III

Apr 22, 2026 16:46 UTC
Immediate term

The US government is expected to move cannabis from the most restrictive federal drug category to one that acknowledges its medical utility. The regulatory shift could be announced as early as Wednesday.

  • Expected reclassification to occur as early as Wednesday
  • Cannabis moving from Schedule I to Schedule III
  • Official recognition of accepted medical uses
  • Removal from the same category as heroin and LSD
  • Potential for reduced federal operational restrictions

The US Department of Justice is preparing to reclassify marijuana, shifting the substance from Schedule I to Schedule III. This move represents a significant pivot in federal drug policy and the government's approach to cannabis regulation. Currently, cannabis is categorized under Schedule I, the most restrictive federal classification, which places it alongside substances such as heroin and LSD. Under this designation, the government maintains that the drug has no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. A move to Schedule III would officially recognize that marijuana has accepted medical applications and a lower potential for abuse. According to sources familiar with the matter, the Justice Department may finalize this reclassification as early as Wednesday. From a market perspective, this regulatory easing is expected to provide a substantial tailwind for the cannabis industry. By lowering the restrictive federal barrier, the move could potentially simplify operational compliance and improve the environment for institutional investment and banking access for cannabis-related businesses.

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