JAKARTA - The cannabis industry in the United States (US) according to Forbes is a sector that is worth a fantastic $32 billion (equivalent to Rp535 trillion). Now a new history of cannabis in the US will begin. After more than half a century in the shadow of strict narcotics laws, cannabis has finally received the long-awaited federal recognition.
President Donald Trump has officially signed an executive order to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. This move marks the most significant change in United States narcotics laws in the last 55 years.
As reported by Forbes, Saturday, December 20, for decades (since 1971 to be precise), marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I narcotic, the same category as harmful substances such as heroin and LSD. This status is given to substances that are considered to have no medical benefits and have a high potential for abuse.
By moving to Schedule III, the US government now officially recognizes that marijuana has widely accepted medical benefits, although it still requires supervision due to its potential for dependence.
Meanwhile, according to a BBC report, with this change it is possible to conduct a wider study on the medical benefits of marijuana, especially for patients with chronic incurable pain, cancer, seizure disorders, and veterans with service-related injuries.
The Biden administration had previously proposed similar changes in 2024, but was hampered by administrative and legal problems.
Now, this change in status is not just an administrative matter. For business actors in the cannabis industry who are struggling, this decision is a "lifebuoy" financially.
Not Fully Legal Yet
Previously in November, the Gallup Poll showed 64 percent of Americans support marijuana legalization.
Although greeted enthusiastically by the stock market and entrepreneurs, this executive order is not a ticket for the total legalization of marijuana throughout the United States. Some Republican members of Congress are opposed, fearing the normalization of marijuana use.
To date, regulations still seem like "patchwork". Although 40 states in the US have allowed the sale of marijuana for medical or recreational purposes, state-level regulations often collide with federal law.
This reclassification step does make it easier for medical businesses and research, but the struggle for full federal legalization is still a long journey at the Washington green table.
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