Trump signs EO easing federal marijuana restrictions
President Donald Trump signed an executive order easing federal marijuana restrictions.
- President Trump signed an executive order to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
- The order moves marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance at the federal level.
- This reclassification could lower tax burdens and accelerate research for cannabis businesses.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to federally reclassify marijuana.
Trump’s Dec. 18 order directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to “take all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process” to reclassify marijuana. His order also said the administration would work with Congress to redefine hemp-derived cannabinoid products so that Americans can get access to CBD products.
The reclassification could greatly assist cannabis businesses, with the potential to lower tax burdens for firms, accelerate research, enable standardized drug development and improve access to capital. A business-tax break is also available to companies making Schedule III drugs.
However, unless the Food and Drug Administration approves of marijuana for medical use, companies will still be unable to sell their products across state lines.
Here’s what to know about the changes in the U.S. and North Carolina.
Is weed being legalized? Trump reclassifies marijuana
While marijuana is not being federally legalized, Trump’s Dec. 18 executive order federally classified the substance as less dangerous, the biggest change to federal legality since 1970.
Until the order was signed, marijuana was classified as a Schedule I drug. This category includes the most dangerous substances such as heroin, LSD and ecstasy. The Drug Enforcement Administration describes Schedule I substances as having no “medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
Now, Trump has ordered that marijuana be classified as a Schedule III drug, which the DEA describes as having “a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.” Other Schedule III drugs include ketamine, testosterone, anabolic steroids and more.
Is weed legal in North Carolina?
Marijuana is not legal in North Carolina. It is decriminalized, however, meaning possession of small amounts intended for personal use rather than illegal sales will generally mean punishments of civil or local infractions rather than state crimes.
Industrial hemp – marijuana with no THC – is legal in the Tar Heel State. Additionally, a popular loophole in hemp legislation has made it possible to get legally stoned. It is illegal to grow cannabis plants with more than a 0.3% concentration of delta-9 THC. Delta-8 THC, however, is not mentioned in the legislation.
Delta-8 is one of over 100 cannabinoids produced by cannabis plants, and while it is usually not found in high amounts, many North Carolina hemp businesses have begun extracting the compound from plants or converting other compounds like CBD into delta-8. If you’ve seen weed sold at gas stations, tobacco stores or anywhere else, it’s likely psychoactive “delta-8” or a similar compound.
It’s worth mentioning that, while delta-8 causes a “high,” the FDA has not evaluated or approved it as safe for consumption, meaning that delta-8 products are not regulated by the FDA and could therefore be harmful to your health.
Is marijuana legal in Cherokee, N.C.?
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians voted in 2021 to legalize the sale of medical marijuana within its tribal territory, known as the Qualla Boundary. Cherokee is a sovereign nation that has its own elections, laws, government and institutions that are self-governed and autonomous. That’s why it can make legal the sale of marijuana despite being within North Carolina.
The Great Smoky Cannabis Co. is the EBCI’s first dispensary. Visitors 21 and older can shop there.
What states is marijuana legal in 2024?
According to DISA Global Solutions, marijuana is legal for medical and recreational purchase and consumption in the following states:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
According to DISA Global Solutions, marijuana is only legal for medical purchase and consumption in the following states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Utah
- West Virginia
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
