Donald Trump has been speaking about the possibility of changing marijuana’s classification in the US
Marijuana’s classification could soon change after Donald Trump addressed its legal status earlier this month.
Whether you call it weed, cannabis, or marijuana, the plant’s dried flower buds are still considered illegal under federal law, even though the majority of states have legalized it for medical purposes.
Right now, 24 states have also given the green light for recreational use, which can easily make people think it’s no longer a crime to carry. But that’s not the full picture.
Currently, marijuana is listed as a Schedule I drug — a category it was placed in back in the 1970s, when it was labeled as highly addictive and dangerous.
If the Department of Justice can get the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on board, it could be moved to Schedule III, which is considered a lower classification and comes with fewer restrictions.
What effects does marijuana have on users?
The effects of cannabis on a person depend heavily on the strain, the dosage, and how it’s taken.
For instance, smoking cannabis can start to produce effects within two to ten minutes, according to Healthline. On the other hand, edibles take much longer — anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours — because they need to be digested before the active compounds enter your system.
Once THC, the main psychoactive compound, gets into your bloodstream, it can quickly raise your heart rate by 20 to 50 beats per minute, and this elevated rate can last for several hours, as noted by WebMD.
Another noticeable change is that your eyes might turn red due to the dilation of blood vessels.
By the 20-minute mark, if you’ve smoked it, THC is usually fully absorbed. For edibles, it takes longer because the liver has to break it down first. Once that happens, the brain’s pleasure and reward centers are triggered, often creating a relaxed, euphoric feeling.
However, in some people — or with certain strains — cannabis can have the opposite effect, sparking anxiety or even panic.
Some users also experience the classic “munchies,” which is when THC stimulates the olfactory bulb, enhancing your sense of smell and taste. This tricks the brain into thinking you’re hungry, even if you’ve just eaten.
Around half an hour in, most people reach the peak of their high. This can last five to six hours, depending on the amount consumed and the method of use.
That said, it’s important to note that your judgment can be impaired for up to 24 hours afterward, which affects focus and decision-making. For those who use methods like dabbing — through pipes or bongs — the high tends to be more intense but shorter, usually lasting one to three hours.
The reclassification of marijuana in the US
"The Justice Department today announced that the Attorney General has submitted to the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking initiating a formal rulemaking process to consider moving marijuana from a schedule I to schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)." it said in a statement in May.
The statement went on to add: "Marijuana has been classified as a schedule I drug since Congress enacted the CSA in 1970. On Oct. 6, 2022, President Biden asked the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to launch a scientific review of how marijuana is scheduled under federal law."
"After receiving HHS's recommendations last August, the Attorney General sought the legal advice of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) on questions relevant to this rulemaking. In light of HHS' medical and scientific determinations, and OLC's legal advice, the Attorney General exercised his authority under the law to initiate the rulemaking process to transfer marijuana to schedule III."
What was Trump’s response?
On August 11, President Trump addressed the topic when asked about the potential reclassification, saying: "We're looking at it. Some people like it, some people hate it — some people hate the whole concept of marijuana because if it does bad for the children, it does bad for people that are older than children."
"But we're looking at reclassification, and we'll make a determination over the next, I would say, over the next few weeks — and that determination hopefully will be the right one."
What would reclassification mean for cannabis?
If cannabis were moved to a lower classification, it would likely become much easier for people to access legally, which in turn could reduce the demand for black market sales.
Dr. Carl Hart, a psychologist and neuroscientist from Columbia University, explained to BBC News: "When you legalize a compound, far more people would go to the legal market, just because it's simple and people don't have access to the black market. The illicit market would certainly dwindle."