INCREASING MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND CANNABIDIOL RESEARCH

OG article by Executive Orders

December 19, 2025

This executive order aims to boost research on medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) to bridge gaps in federal policy and scientific understanding. It notes that chronic pain affects one in four U.S. adults and one in three seniors, with six in ten medical marijuana users targeting pain relief. Forty states and D.C. have regulated programs, yet Schedule I classification under the CSA has hindered research. HHS's 2023 recommendation to reschedule to Schedule III—based on accepted medical uses for pain, anorexia, and nausea—supports this shift, citing over 30,000 practitioners aiding six million patients for 15 conditions. The order directs the Attorney General to expedite rescheduling rulemaking. For CBD, used by one in five adults and 15% of seniors, it addresses safety issues like inaccurate labeling and THC thresholds in hemp products. It tasks officials to collaborate with Congress on updating definitions, establishing THC limits per serving/container, and CBD:THC ratios. Agencies like HHS, FDA, CMS, and NIH must develop real-world evidence models for affordable access, focusing on long-term effects in vulnerable groups. The policy prioritizes informing patients and doctors, reducing risks like drug interactions, and promoting opioid alternatives for veterans and seniors.