Trump reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana in historic shift

President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general has signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug.

It's a major policy shift long sought by advocates who say cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government.

Thursday's order does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under U.S. law.

But the order changes the way marijuana is regulated, shifting licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to the less strictly regulated Schedule III. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s action Iargely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in the 40 states that have adopted them.

Blanche says he’s delivering on the Republican president’s promise to expand Americans’ access to medical treatment options.