President Donald Trump speaks with reporters at the White House on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (Alex Brandon/AP)
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday said he is considering removing marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug with a determination expected soon — an action that veterans groups are pushing so doctors can prescribe it to treat pain and other ailments former service members often experience.
The American Legion and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America are among the veterans groups urging the administration to take action on reclassifying cannabis as a less dangerous drug.
“I’ve heard some good things about its effects on pain. I’ve also heard some other bad things about it,” Trump said at a White House news conference Monday morning.
Forty states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories already have medical marijuana laws that enable adults to obtain prescriptions for cannabis from medical doctors. But marijuana remains illegal under federal law.
Trump said he is having several discussions about the proposal, and a decision will be made in a few weeks.
“Some people like it some people hate it. Some people hate the whole concept of marijuana,” he said.
Trump’s announcement Monday follows recent votes in the House and Senate to allow doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs for the first time to discuss medical marijuana as a treatment option with patients in states where it is legal.
The legislation is part of the 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act that cleared both chambers and now must be reviewed by a committee made up of members from the House and Senate before being signed by the president into law.
However, marijuana possession and its use would remain prohibited on VA property, as federal law governs these locations.
A Schedule I drug is a substance with a high potential for abuse and not accepted for medical use, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
But supporters contend federal reclassification would allow any doctor to prescribe medical marijuana to treat certain medical problems and make it easier for federal research to be conducted on the effects and potential benefits
Disabled American Veterans is among veterans advocacy groups pushing for more research into medical marijuana as an alternative treatment for veterans with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.
In 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration proposed a rule to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug. Schedule III drugs include Tylenol with codeine and are prescribed by doctors.
The DEA’s proposal was part of a formal rulemaking process, which includes a public comment period and potential hearings, according to the DEA. No action has been taken.
Prescriptions for Schedule III drugs have to be written by a licensed health care professional. Pharmacies also have to keep records of drug transactions.
The Food and Drug Administration in 2024 also approved a clinical trial with 300 participants to determine whether cannabis helps veterans with PTSD — a mental health condition that can result from witnessing traumatic events.
The study involves veterans with moderate to severe PTSD who smoke cannabis at home and then use a mobile app to report PTSD symptoms, according to the FDA.
