Harrisburg, PA (Aug. 15) — President Trump announced Monday that he will decide “over the next few weeks” whether to reclassify marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act, moving it from Schedule I — alongside heroin — to the less-restrictive Schedule III category. Such a move would mark the most significant federal shift in cannabis policy in decades, creating new economic opportunities and easing some restrictions for states that choose to regulate cannabis.
If Trump follows through, reclassification could happen quickly, making it more pressing for Pennsylvania lawmakers to act now on adult-use legalization. While rescheduling would not make cannabis fully legal nationwide, the change would remove major barriers for research, allow certain marijuana businesses to claim standard tax deductions, help stabilize the industry, and signal a growing bipartisan consensus on cannabis policy.
The renewed interest in federal rescheduling comes as Pennsylvania lawmakers have already outlined a clear path forward. Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) have introduced a bipartisan bill to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis, paired with legislation from Representatives Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) and Abby Major (R-Armstrong & Westmoreland). A third proposal by Rep. Amen Brown (D-Philadelphia) would serve as a House companion measure to the Senate bill.
Trump’s interest in rescheduling is not the first time he and fellow Republicans have signaled support for a change in cannabis policy. He supported marijuana legalization in Florida last year. In fact, during the 2024 presidential race, ResponsiblePA highlighted in a Harrisburg billboard that Trump, then presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Gov. Josh Shapiro all agreed on cannabis legalization.
Additionally, national Republicans like former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) have called for loosening federal restrictions. “States like Florida, California, Colorado and so many others—even red states, they’ve got dispensaries that look like Apple stores. You walk in and it’s like a Genius Bar for THC,” Gaetz told One America News. “People are paying taxes on it. Landlords are getting profitable tenants. Jobs are being created. What’s Uncle Sam doing? Pretending it’s still a cartel product smuggled into the country in a hollowed-out coconut.”
Polling shows that 88% of Americans — including a strong majority of Republican voters — support legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational use. In Pennsylvania, that support spans rural, suburban, and urban communities, with more than 60% of Pennsylvania voters, across both parties and regions, supporting adult-use legalization. Cannabis reform is no longer a fringe debate; it is a mainstream, bipartisan issue, which Pennsylvania lawmakers need to act on this year.
“Republicans across the country are recognizing that cannabis reform is good for business, good for public safety, and overwhelmingly supported by voters. Pennsylvania can do the same. With bipartisan legislation already on the table, now is the time to act,” said Rep. Abby Major.
Pennsylvania isn’t the only state closely watching President Trump’s recent comments on rescheduling. Red states like Indiana are also considering a shift to adult use, with Republican Gov. Mike Braun commenting that the president’s remarks would add “a little bit of fire” to the local push for cannabis legalization in his state.
With 90% of Pennsylvania’s neighboring borders already legalizing adult-use cannabis, the Commonwealth is losing jobs and tax revenue to Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and as of last week – Delaware. In the first weekend of Delaware sales (Friday to Sunday), the state rolled in $903,000 in total marijuana sales (medical + recreational).
An economic analysis found that legalization in Pennsylvania could create more than 30,000 jobs, generate $2.1 billion in sales in the first year, and deliver $420 million in recurring annual revenue for priorities like infrastructure, public safety, and schools.
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