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Updated: April 29, 2026 @ 11:17 pm
A major shift in federal drug policy is raising questions across the country—including in Oklahoma—after President Trump ordered marijuana to be reclassified from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III.
TULSA, Okla. — A major shift in federal drug policy is raising questions across the country—including in Oklahoma—after President Trump ordered marijuana to be reclassified from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III.
The move, finalized last week by the U.S. Department of Justice, lowers marijuana’s classification to a category that recognizes accepted medical use, placing it alongside drugs like ketamine and certain codeine-based medications.
Schedule I drugs, by contrast, are defined as having a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical purpose.
The change stems from groundwork laid in December when Trump directed federal agencies to review marijuana’s classification.
“So many people that I respect ask me to do this,” Trump previously said. “They’re having big problems with illness, with cancer.”
Despite the federal shift, state officials said day-to-day life for most Oklahomans, especially medical marijuana patients, will largely stay the same.
Medical marijuana has been legal in Oklahoma since 2018 when voters approved the program.
According to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the rules governing use, possession and distribution are unchanged.
“I don’t think we’re going to see any changes in how we do our business,” said OBN spokesperson Mark Woodward. “Parameter’s remain the same.”
That means:
Woodward pushed back on the idea that reclassification opens the door to looser enforcement.
“Some folks think this is a free-for-all. It’s the opposite. Nothing changes at the state level and now you have a new level of federal regulation and oversight.”
While consumers may not notice immediate differences, the reclassification could have broader impacts behind the scenes.
State officials pointed to several potential benefits:
More federal oversight:
Closer coordination between state and federal law enforcement could help address ongoing issues with illegal grows, fraud and black market activity.
Banking access for businesses:
Cannabis businesses—long shut out of traditional financial systems—may now gain access to banking services and tax structures available to other industries.
Expanded research opportunities:
Reclassification opens the door for more clinical studies into marijuana’s medical benefits and risks.
Woodward said, “It allows us to better understand what the actual health benefits are and what the dangers may be.”
Scientists say the change could be transformative.
At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, neuroscience researchers said the shift removes long-standing barriers to studying cannabis.
“It was like we got a brand new car, but we didn’t know how to drive it,” said Dr. Dustin Hines. “Now, we’re excited to see where it goes.”
Researchers said cannabis contains hundreds of compounds, some of which may hold promise for treating conditions like epilepsy, inflammation and chronic pain; however, strict federal classification has historically limited funding and access for studies.”
“We’re pro-facts,” said Dr. Rochelle Hines. “We want to understand.”
Even with the reclassification, several key questions remain unanswered and may require action from Congress.
For now, Oklahoma law enforcement said marijuana should not cross state lines, regardless of legality elsewhere and if it is prescribed to you.
For most Oklahomans, the message is simple: nothing changes immediately.
Medical marijuana remains regulated by the state’s existing framework under the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and federal reclassification does not legalize recreational use.
Officials said the biggest impacts will be seen over time through research, regulation and potential legislative updates.
Until then, patients and businesses are advised to follow current state laws.
As for the broader cannabis policy debates, those are far from over.
President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general on Thursday signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, a major policy shift long sought by advocates who said cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government.
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