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On Dec. 18, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research, directing the Department of Justice to reschedule marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This reclassification reflects growing scientific evidence of marijuana’s medical utility.
Both the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) issued statements supporting this federal reclassification. The move reflects growing recognition of cannabis’s medical potential and opens the door for expanded research that could directly impact nursing practice and patient care.
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In its official release, ANA emphasized that moving cannabis out of Schedule I—the category reserved for drugs with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”—into Schedule III, which recognizes medical use with lower abuse potential, aligns policy with science.
“Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III advances public health by expanding access to rigorous research, supporting evidence-informed clinical care, and reinforcing patient safety through regulated study and oversight,” the ANA statement said.
The association noted that clear federal guidance helps nurses and other healthcare professionals provide safer, evidence-based care. ANA’s longstanding position has supported research into therapeutic marijuana and related cannabinoids.
The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) also issued a statement supporting the reclassification.
AANA President Jeff Molter, MSN, MBA, CRNA, explained that the executive order expands “opportunities for rigorous research into how cannabis and cannabinoids can provide pain relief, and how they interact with anesthesia and perioperative care, strengthening the science that underpins patient safety.”
Molter noted that nurse anesthetists have contributed to research in this area, and expressed excitement about future collaboration with federal agencies and the clinical community.
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The federal reclassification has drawn support from numerous healthcare and advocacy organizations:
Nurses are actively discussing the rescheduling across social media platforms, reflecting a mix of excitement and caution. Some have seen cannabis benefit patients, others raise concerns about safety and youth exposure, and many emphasize the need for stronger research.
For nursing practice, this rescheduling underscores the importance of evidence-based care: it encourages clear documentation, careful dosing guidance, and transparent communication about risks and benefits, while opening the door for more rigorous study that can inform safe, patient-centered use of cannabis in clinical settings.
As research and clinical guidelines evolve, nurses will play a critical role in translating new evidence into safe, effective care for their patients.
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Angelina has her finger on the pulse of everything nursing. Whether it’s a trending news topic, valuable resource or, heartfelt story, Angelina is an expert at producing content that nurses love to read. As a former nurse recruiter turned marketer, she specializes in warmly engaging with the nursing community and exponentially growing our social presence.
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