Executive Order December 18, 2025

INCREASING MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND CANNABIDIOL RESEARCH

Healthcare Government Reform Civil Rights Public Safety

💡

In Simple Terms

The President wants more research on medical marijuana and CBD. This will help doctors and patients understand how to use them safely and effectively.

Summary

President Donald Trump has issued an order to enhance research on medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) to improve healthcare guidance for patients and doctors. The order directs the Attorney General to expedite the process of rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, acknowledging its accepted medical use. It also instructs collaboration with Congress to refine regulations on hemp-derived cannabinoid products, ensuring safe access to full-spectrum CBD products. The initiative aims to close the knowledge gap on the risks and benefits of these substances, particularly focusing on vulnerable populations. The order underscores the need for real-world evidence in research to better inform standards of care.

Official Record

Awaiting Federal Register

Published on WhiteHouse.gov

View on WhiteHouse.gov

December 18, 2025

Pending Federal Register publication

Analysis & Impact

💡 How This May Affect You

Working families and individuals: May gain access to more effective pain management options, reducing reliance on opioids.
Small business owners: Could see growth opportunities in the medical marijuana and CBD markets with clearer regulations.
Students and recent graduates: Increased research opportunities in medical fields related to cannabis and CBD studies.
Retirees and seniors: Improved access to alternative treatments for chronic pain and other age-related conditions.
Different regions (urban, suburban, rural): Rural areas might benefit from new agricultural and business opportunities in hemp and cannabis.

🏢 Key Stakeholders

Patients with chronic pain benefit from increased access to alternative treatments.
Researchers gain opportunities to conduct studies on marijuana's medical efficacy.
Pharmaceutical industry faces challenges from competition with cannabis-based treatments.
Food and Drug Administration responsible for overseeing regulatory changes and approvals.
Cannabis advocacy groups support rescheduling and expanded research initiatives.

📈 What to Expect

Short-term (3–12 months):

Increased public discourse on marijuana rescheduling.
Initial research grants awarded to study medical marijuana.
Regulatory framework drafts for CBD products released.

Long-term (1–4 years):

Expanded clinical trials on marijuana's medical efficacy.
Improved patient access to CBD and marijuana treatments.
Revised federal guidelines on medical marijuana use.

📚 Historical Context

Obama in 2016 allowed limited marijuana research; this expands federal research significantly.
Builds on Obama's 2014 reclassification of CBD to facilitate medical research.
Reverses Nixon's 1970 Controlled Substances Act placing marijuana in Schedule I.
Notable for aligning federal policy with state-level medical marijuana acceptance.
Historically significant shift in federal stance on marijuana's medical use.

Affected Agencies

Department of Health and Human Services Department of Justice Food and Drug Administration National Institutes of Health Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Office of Management and Budget