Trump administration moves to reschedule medical marijuana

NPR | By Will Stone

Published April 23, 2026 at 6:22 PM EDT

The Trump administration is easing restrictions on medical marijuana. The acting attorney general issued a memo saying he is moving the cannabis products out of the most restrictive category.

Related Content

U.S. soldier charged with suspected Polymarket insider trading over Maduro raid

Bobby Allyn

It's the first time suspected insider trading on Polymarket has led to criminal charges in the U.S.
Stolen book of John Keats' love letters are returned to their rightful owner

Marc Rivers, Mallory Yu

Nearly 40 years ago, a book containing eight letters John Keats wrote to his fiancee Fanny Brawne disappeared. They resurfaced last year and, this week, returned to their rightful owner.
Author details the spy network that took on America's post-WWII Nazi groups

Terry Gross

In The Secret War Against Hate, Steven J. Ross details the racist, anti-Semitic groups that sprang up in the latter half of the 20th century — and the spy network that worked to bring them to justice.
Can a mentalist trick Trump? Oz Pearlman will try in a room full of journalists

Rachel Treisman

The White House Correspondents' Dinner will be headlined by a mentalist instead of a comedian. Oz Pearlman tells NPR he hopes to unify, delight and puzzle the crowd — but can't reveal how.
Politics

Trump administration eases rules on some marijuana categories. Here's what to know

Bill Chappell

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said he is immediately moving medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, which includes drugs like ketamine, Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.