TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – The federal government is reclassifying medical marijuana from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III, a shift that could eventually expand access for Texas patients but changes little in the short term.
The reclassification moves medical marijuana from the same category as heroin to a class that includes codeine, ketamine and testosterone.
“This is not legalizing marijuana. It’s just changing the federal government’s view of it,” said Justin Roberts, a lawyer at Roberts & Roberts.
Schedule III status recognizes accepted medical uses for marijuana, a departure from its previous classification.
“They’re moving it to schedule three, which means that it has some accepted medical uses,” Roberts said.
Texas Original, one of the state’s licensed medical cannabis operators, said the reclassification will give Texas patients easier access to medicine and ease financial barriers for operators across the state.
“This is a major step forward as we continue to deliver the highest-quality medical cannabis to patients across Texas,” said Nico Richardson, CEO of Texas Original.
The reclassification does not change current Texas law.
“This reclassification doesn’t really change anything for day-to-day for Texans right now,” Roberts said.
Medical marijuana remains legal only for specific conditions, including epilepsy, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, terminal cancer, incurable neurodegenerative diseases, PTSD and all forms of cancer. As of September 1, 2025, qualifying conditions also include chronic pain, TBI, IBD and palliative care.
As of late 2025, more than 135,470 medical marijuana patients were listed in the Texas Compassionate Use Registry, an increase of nearly one-third from the year before.
Morris Anderson, owner of CBD American Shaman of Tyler, has sold CBD products across East Texas for eight years and relocated near Midtown Tyler two months ago. CBD does not require a prescription and is not the same as medical marijuana.
“This is gonna be the norm. And we’re gonna get it figured out to where we can collaborate with the doctors,” Anderson said.
The DEA holds its next hearing on the reclassification June 29.
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