President Donald Trump recently said his administration is “looking at” moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. For some in the industry, that shift promises relief: the end of the 280E tax stranglehold, new opportunities for research, and a symbolic acknowledgment that marijuana has medical value.
But Schedule III would not end prohibition. People would still be arrested. Records would remain. Communities targeted for decades by the drug war would stay locked out.
That is why the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) has launched a new campaign urging Trump to go further and remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act entirely.
You can sign the petition here.
What the Petition Demands
The petition outlines what full descheduling would mean:
- End federal criminal penalties once and for all, eliminating arrests and criminal records for cannabis.
- Advance expungements for past convictions, giving people access to jobs, housing, and opportunity.
- Protect public health and consumer safety with age limits, clear labeling, and education.
- Reinvest tax revenue in communities harmed by prohibition through reentry programs, housing support, employment, and education.
DPA argues that anything less will keep prohibition alive under another label.
Why It Matters
Schedule III would ease certain industry burdens, but it would not end criminalization. Cannabis arrests, immigration consequences, and prison sentences would continue. Families and communities would still face barriers created by outdated laws.
Descheduling is the only path that truly ends federal marijuana prohibition. With surveys showing nearly nine out of ten Americans support legalizing cannabis for medical or recreational use, the public is already ahead of the government.
Taking Action
Rescheduling may offer temporary relief, but descheduling is the reform that delivers justice. The DPA petition calls on Trump to meet this moment and make history by ending federal marijuana criminalization once and for all.
Tell Trump to Deschedule Marijuana Now.
Photo by Jack Baxter on Unsplash
