Clarification on Medical Cannabis Rescheduling
The Trump administration’s recent move to federally reschedule certain medical cannabis products to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) does not broadly legalize cannabis, according to Sara Carter Bailey, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). In an interview with Newsmax, Carter Bailey stated, “It’s still illegal,” clarifying that the executive-level Schedule III designation is specifically for “doctors and research and for medicine, for medicinal purposes.” This clarification follows previous reporting by Hemp Gazette on the partial medical cannabis rescheduling and the confusion it generated among industry stakeholders and the public.
The ONDCP Director’s remarks were made during a discussion about the administration’s new National Drug Control Strategy, which was released this week. The strategy document expresses concerns regarding “high-potency” marijuana and alleges that international cartels and crime groups are exploiting state cannabis legalization laws. It also references the forthcoming federal recriminalization of hemp THC products, scheduled for later this year under a law signed by President Donald Trump.
Implications for the Industry and Patients
The order, signed last month by U.S. Acting Attorney General Blanche, moved marijuana products to Schedule III of the CSA. This administrative action has specific legal implications, as detailed in a report published by the Congressional Research Service last week.
- For Certified Patients: The congressional report indicates that certified patients who possess medical cannabis from state-licensed dispensaries now have certain protections under Schedule III. The order “appears to authorize end users to possess marijuana for medical use without a CSA-compliant prescription.”
- For Non-End Users (Industry): For entities participating in the state-legal cannabis industry, the final order “may make it possible for them to comply with the CSA, but may not bring them into full compliance with federal law.” This suggests that while some federal hurdles may be reduced, comprehensive federal legality for the industry remains elusive.
The ONDCP’s stance, as articulated by Carter Bailey, underscores the continued federal prohibition of cannabis outside of these specific medical and research contexts. Her full comments were reported by Marijuana Moment.
ONDCP’s Broader Concerns Regarding Illicit Cultivation
Beyond the specifics of medical cannabis rescheduling, Carter Bailey also addressed broader concerns about illicit cannabis cultivation within the United States. She highlighted issues with “illicit marijuana grows” that she asserted are “connected directly to the [Chinese Communist Party], grows connected directly to Sinaloa cartel and [Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación].”
The ONDCP Director noted that some products from these illicit operations have reached potencies as high as 90 percent. She stated that law enforcement is actively targeting these grows to remove them from the country, emphasizing the administration’s focus on preventing “adversarial states or adversaries to be purchasing farmland in the United States… to grow illicit marijuana and to not only poison our people, but poison our soil.”
Prior to her confirmation as drug czar, Carter Bailey had expressed support for medical cannabis, stating in 2024 that she did not have a “problem” with legalization if it was monitored, particularly for “medicinal purposes and medical reasons” for patients with conditions like cancer.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Hemp Gazette does not provide medical recommendations, diagnoses, or treatment plans. Always consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before making any decisions regarding your health or any medical condition. Statements concerning the therapeutic uses of hemp, cannabis, or cannabinoid-derived products have not been evaluated by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Medicinal cannabis products in Australia are accessed via prescription pathways under TGA regulation.
