US3 min(s) read
Published 10:29 14 Aug 2025 GMT
Ever since Donald Trump suggested that he might relax marijuana laws, people have been wondering what this actually means.
Speaking at an August 11 press conference, the president said his administration is reviewing the drug’s status and expects to reach a decision soon.
“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. It’s a very complicated subject,” Trump told reporters.
The announcement came just days after Trump attended a high-profile fundraiser featuring major cannabis industry figures, including Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve, one of the largest marijuana companies in the U.S.
Under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana is a Schedule I drug — the strictest category, reserved for substances considered highly dangerous with no accepted medical use.
This classification means marijuana is treated the same as heroin under federal law, despite 45 states now allowing it for medical use and many permitting recreational use.
Possession penalties vary by state. In some states, marijuana use is fully legal, while in others, possession can still result in fines or even jail time.
So if you're wondering what this all means, attorney Greg Isaacs spoke to WATE 6 to clarify.
When asked if Trump's comments were the next step to "legalizing" marijuana, Isaacs said responded that it will give states the ability to lessen criminal charges around the drug.
It will also allow states to "revisit" whether they want to legalize marijuana, as it will be classified as a much safer drug by the federal government.
Isaacs then explains that laws in Tennessee are about to change: "The amount of THC that can be sold with CBD is going to be dropped dramatically to 0.3 grams."
He also stated that the selling of marijuana will be overseen by the Alcohol Beverage Commission.
If marijuana were moved to Schedule III, criminal penalties would be reduced, researchers would face fewer barriers in studying its medical applications, and cannabis companies could potentially claim tax deductions currently denied to them.
Trump acknowledged the complexity of the issue, saying: “I’ve heard great things having to do with medical and bad things having to do with just about everything else.”
He also noted the deeply split public opinion: “Some people like it, some people hate it. Some people hate the whole concept of marijuana.”
Trump’s views on marijuana have shifted considerably over the years. In 1990, he told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: “We’re losing badly the war on drugs. You have to legalize drugs to win that war. You have to take the profit away from these drug czars.”
.webp_QQJmGo?tr=cr-345.0.1535.1190,f-webp,q-70,w-100)
