Marijuana Moment: Major Nurses Associations Applaud Trump’s Marijuana Rescheduling Move, Saying It Could Open Doors To Critical Research

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Two major nurses associations are applauding the Trump administration’s move to federally reschedule marijuana, which they say will pave the path for expanded research into the potential health benefits of cannabis if the rule is finalized.

After President Donald Trump signed an executive order this month directing the attorney general to complete the process of moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) put out statements commending the action.

“Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III advances public health by expanding access to rigorous research, supporting evidence-informed clinical care, and reinforcing patient safety through regulated study and oversight,” ANA—which also cheered the initial reclassification recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Biden administration—said.

“ANA supports the President’s executive order rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act,” it said. “This action reflects scientific review and acknowledges evidence demonstrating that cannabis has accepted medical use and a safety profile consistent with Schedule III classification.”

The modest reform provides “clearer alignment between federal policy and medical practice,” which in turn “supports more consistent guidance for health care professionals and patients while strengthening oversight and data collection,” the organization said.

Representatives of AANA, meanwhile were invited to attend the signing ceremony in the Oval Office when Trump issued the cannabis order. The association’s president, Jeff Molter, said in a statement that “reclassification will expand opportunities for rigorous research into how cannabis and cannabinoids can provide pain relief, and how they interact with anesthesia and perioperative care, strengthening the science that underpins patient safety.”

Certified nurse anesthetists “have been leaders in this important research, and this will open the door to more opportunities,” he said. “The AANA thanks the Trump administration for this important action which will prioritize patient safety and research, and we look forward to partnership with federal agencies and the clinical community to ensure implementation supports safe, high-quality anesthesia care.”

Other healthcare groups, including the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), have also promoted the rescheduling move, similarly describing it as a policy change that will bolster future research into cannabis.

With rescheduling now moving forward, some key House and Senate members recently previewed their priorities for additional reform—from giving cannabis businesses access to the banking system to legalizing marijuana altogether.

Lawmakers in states like Pennsylvania and Tennessee have also said that the political effect of federal rescheduling could ultimately help as they work to enact local reforms in the next year.

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