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- Over 68% of Americans support marijuana legalization for recreational or medical use.
- Cannabis rescheduling to Schedule III could ease medical research restrictions and access.
- Current DEA nominee Terrance Cole has expressed skepticism about marijuana’s health impacts.
- Reclassifying cannabis would lift tax restrictions that hurt small cannabis businesses.
- Removing marijuana from Schedule I could reduce stigma in healthcare and education sectors.
The next Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief nominee, Terrance Cole, says marijuana rescheduling will be “one of my first priorities.” While this claim has stirred excitement across the cannabis world—from recreational users to medical researchers—the unclear parts of his statements leave key questions unanswered.
Could moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III finally match federal law with public opinion and state-level legalization? And if rescheduling happens, what will it actually change for cannabis users, businesses, and culture in America?
What Does Marijuana Rescheduling Actually Mean?
Let’s go back to basics. Under the current Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is put in Schedule I. This is the strictest category. It's for substances with:
- No currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States,
- A high chance of abuse, and
- No accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
This puts marijuana in the same group as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. These drugs are often linked to serious addiction risks and no medical value. Many experts, supporters, and researchers strongly disagree with this grouping. They point to a lot of scientific writing and ongoing medical marijuana programs in states.
What Would Moving to Schedule III Mean?
If marijuana is reclassified from Schedule I to Schedule III, it would still mean that cannabis is federally regulated. But the effects of being in Schedule III are significant:
- Recognized Medical Use: Schedule III drugs are accepted for medical use in the U.S. This means doctors could prescribe cannabis. (Though current state laws already allow this in many places).
- Easier Research Access: Right now, federal rules make it very hard for researchers to study the medical benefits or downsides of cannabis. Rescheduling would get rid of many of these complicated rules.
- Tax Code Relief from 280E: One big benefit, though less known, involves the U.S. tax code. It's specifically IRS Section 280E. This rule stops Schedule I and II drug businesses from writing off typical business costs. Schedule III status would remove this financial burden.
- Insurance & Pharma Involvement: Health insurers and drug companies might be more willing to get into the cannabis business if it's federally recognized for medical use and legally rescheduled.
- Potential Cultural Shift: Schedule III may help change how people see marijuana. It would place it alongside drugs like Tylenol with codeine, anabolic steroids, or ketamine. All of these are approved for medical use.
What Rescheduling Won’t Do
Let’s be clear: cannabis moving to Schedule III is not the same as federal legalization. Here’s what stays the same:
- Recreational use stays federally illegal. Even under Schedule III, only medical use is allowed by federal law.
- States keep the right to criminalize marijuana. Schedule III does not make states legalize medical cannabis.
- Social justice reforms are still needed. Federal rescheduling doesn’t automatically erase criminal records or fix racial unfairness from past law enforcement.
Simply put, marijuana rescheduling is progress, but it's not perfect.
Who Is Terrance Cole—And Why Does He Matter?
Terrance Cole is President Trump's pick to lead the DEA. He would replace Ann Milgram. His possible confirmation has caused changes for people who want cannabis reform. Cole is a veteran law enforcement officer with 21 years at the DEA. He is currently Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security for Virginia.
In that role, he oversees the state’s Cannabis Control Authority. His background gives him special knowledge of both law enforcement and rules. But it also brings up worries about which way he might lean.
Past Views on Cannabis
Cole’s history of doubting cannabis is known. In a 2024 statement, he suggested marijuana use could raise the chance of schizophrenia and even suicide among young people. These ideas sound like old stories, not current science.
But at his April 2025 Judiciary Committee hearing, Cole sounded more balanced:
“It’s time to move forward,” Cole said when asked directly about the marijuana rescheduling process. But he did not say what his personal position was.
That hesitation, where he said more study was needed, worries some supporters. Is Cole just avoiding making promises? Or is he carefully thinking about what might happen?
More Than Just Words: Why Schedule III Classification Matters
Some people think Schedule III is just a political compromise. But it could open up important changes. Here’s a closer look at how the change could impact the business and affect how you use cannabis every day.
🌿 The End of 280E Could Save Cannabis Businesses
One of the most complex, but damaging, problems for cannabis business owners is IRS Code 280E. With this code:
- Businesses dealing in Schedule I or II drugs cannot deduct regular costs like rent, payroll, marketing, insurance, and utilities.
- This makes tax bills much higher. Cannabis companies often face tax rates from 50%–80%. This really hurts small and minority-owned operators.
Schedule III reclassification would remove the 280E rules. It would finally let cannabis companies be taxed and treated like any other business.
🔬 A Driver for Medical Research
Under Schedule I, researchers must get through a mess of DEA forms, separate FDA approvals, and inspections to do even simple cannabis studies. Few places have the time or money to do it.
Schedule III makes access much easier. Places could:
- Apply using standard research licenses.
- Get more types of cannabis, instead of just the one supply from the University of Mississippi, which is often criticized.
- Work with drug companies or grant groups.
This could lead to new medicines made from cannabis. It could also help us better understand conditions like epilepsy, PTSD, chronic pain, and clear the way for new developments in medical technology.
💊 Prescription Cannabis?
If marijuana were officially put under Schedule III, drug versions could, in theory, be prescribed through regular pharmacies. This would still need FDA approval and other rules. While natural cannabis products might not show up in CVS or Walgreens right away, rescheduling creates a legal way for that to happen later.
Medicines like Epidiolex (made from CBD for epilepsy) and Marinol (made from synthetic THC) already exist. But rescheduling would allow for a larger group of cannabis-based treatments.
⚖️ Cultural and Legal Acceptance
Being listed alongside prescribed drugs may also lessen stigma in areas where federal rules are still important:
- Public health messages could include cannabis without the DEA stigma.
- Medical pros could suggest treatments without risking their licenses.
- Federal contractors and large employers might rethink old substance rules that don't allow any use.
Mixed-Up Laws: How Rescheduling Could Bring Some Sameness
The situation with cannabis laws across the country is messy. Some states have full legalization, some only allow medical use, and others ban it completely. As of 2024:
- 38 states have legalized medical marijuana.
- 24 states plus Washington D.C. allow recreational use.
But under federal law, having cannabis is still a federal crime. This conflict makes business harder, confuses law enforcement, and limits consumers.
One example brought up during Cole’s confirmation involved the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. They legalized recreational cannabis on tribal land, even though the state bans it. This caused confusion over whose laws applied and who would enforce them. Cole agreed that such gaps needed looking at. He said they were "worthy of a working group."
Rescheduling could help federal and state authorities make drug laws more sensible. This is especially true for tribal rights and business between states.
DEA’s Slow Move to Reform
President Biden asked the DEA to review marijuana’s classification in 2022. But the process has stopped. Disagreements inside the agency, political fighting, and worries about public health messages have held up a final decision.
In late 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officially suggested moving cannabis to Schedule III. They showed proof of its medical use and lower potential for abuse. This provided a key scientific basis for the change. Still, the DEA has to make the final scheduling choice.
As of early 2025, a final rule is still waiting. But many people think Cole’s confirmation is a key moment.
The Politics Behind the Plant
Voters like cannabis reform more and more. 88% of Americans support some form of legalization. But federal politicians have had trouble showing that agreement.
Politics have stopped DEA head picks before. Trump’s earlier nominee, Sheriff Chad Chronister, had to pull out. This was partly because of pressure over his support for fair cannabis laws.
At the same time, PACs are spending lots of money on ads. Some criticize delays. Others try to get votes from people who support cannabis.
The debate about marijuana rescheduling is not just a small issue anymore. It’s a big topic in campaigns and a key federal policy issue.
Cannabis Business and Consumer Effects
Small Business Help
From better access to banking to simpler rules for getting licenses, the change to Schedule III would loosen many limits. These limits have slowed down the industry’s growth. Cannabis business owners often face:
- Banks saying no because of the federal classification.
- Very high tax rates.
- Limited ability to get insurance or do business across state lines.
Schedule III doesn’t fix everything. But it would really make things more equal, especially for the small- and medium-sized businesses. These make up most of the marijuana market.
Fairness for Communities Still Needed
It’s important to see who has been left out. Black and Latino communities were hit hardest by the laws against cannabis in the past. Many people are still in prison for things involving cannabis. This is happening even as others make money from legal markets just a few miles away.
Rescheduling changes the language used by law enforcement. But it doesn’t fix past harm. Supporters continue to ask for criminal records to be cleared, for people to be freed early, and for money to go to communities most hurt by the War on Drugs.
Culture: Rolling's Role in Reform
At Purple Rose Supply, we think rolling is more than just a skill. It’s tradition, identity, and expression. Legal reform should support that culture, not get rid of it.
If rescheduling moves forward, we picture a world where rolling cones, pressing cannagars, and creating your own cannabis practice is not just legal but celebrated. Reform must protect the skilled and diverse voices that are the heart of cannabis culture. It shouldn't just focus on profits for big drug companies.
What You Can Do to Push for Change
- Stay informed: Follow reliable news about cannabis that isn’t biased, like Marijuana Moment.
- Vote in important elections: District attorneys, state representatives, and presidential administrations decide on reforms.
- Support brands and companies that share your values: Help build a cannabis business system that is fair to everyone.
- Teach others about the pros and cons of Schedule III, and help clear up wrong information.
Final Thoughts: One Step Closer?
Terrance Cole may or may not take big steps forward. But the cannabis community is not waiting in the shadows anymore. Marijuana rescheduling to Schedule III may not be the end goal. But it may be the most important step to make federal policy match science, business, and culture.
It’s time for the DEA to move ahead. And it's time for all of us to go with the future.
