Democracy Dies in Darkness

Trump seeks to cut restrictions on marijuana through planned order

The president is expected to direct agencies to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug, similar to some common prescription painkillers.

December 11, 2025

4 min

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President Donald Trump takes questions at the White House on Dec. 2. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post)

By Jacob Bogage

Dan Diamond

and

David Ovalle

President Donald Trump is expected to push the government to dramatically loosen federal restrictions on marijuana, reducing oversight of the plant and its derivatives to the same level as some common prescription painkillers and other drugs, according to six people familiar with the discussions.

What readers are saying

The comments on President Trump's plan to reclassify marijuana to a Schedule III substance are largely skeptical and critical. Many commenters suggest that Trump's motivations are financially driven, speculating that he or his family might have investments in the marijuana... Show more

This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.

By Jacob Bogage

Jacob Bogage covers the Trump administration's economic policy for The Washington Post, where he's worked since 2015. Contact him securely on Signal: jacobbogage.87. @jacobbogage

By Dan Diamond

Dan Diamond is a White House reporter for The Washington Post, with a focus on policy and public health. His email is dan.diamond@washpost.com and you can reach him on Signal at @dan_diamond.01.@ddiamond

By David Ovalle

David Ovalle is a reporter for the Health & Science team who covers opioids and addiction. He previously worked for the Miami Herald, where he covered crime, justice and hurricanes.@davidovalle305

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