Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 23, 2025)]

[Presidential Documents]

[Pages 60541-60543]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 2025-23846]

Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 244 / Tuesday, December 23, 2025 /

Presidential Documents

[[Page 60541]]

Executive Order 14370 of December 18, 2025

Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol

Research

By the authority vested in me as President by the

Constitution and the laws of the United States of

America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose and Policy. Americans deserve access

to the best medical treatments and research

infrastructure in the world. In 2023, the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) completed a review of the

landscape of medical use of marijuana and found

scientific support for its use to treat anorexia

related to a medical condition, nausea and vomiting,

and pain. Chronic pain affects nearly 1 in 4 United

States adults and more than 1 in 3 United States

seniors, and 6 in 10 people who use medical marijuana

report doing so to manage pain. Forty States plus the

District of Columbia have State- or locally-sanctioned,

regulated medical marijuana programs. Yet decades of

Federal drug control policy have neglected marijuana's

medical uses. That oversight has limited the ability of

scientists and manufacturers to complete the necessary

research on safety and efficacy to inform doctors and

patients.

lly-sanctioned,

regulated medical marijuana programs. Yet decades of

Federal drug control policy have neglected marijuana's

medical uses. That oversight has limited the ability of

scientists and manufacturers to complete the necessary

research on safety and efficacy to inform doctors and

patients.

Marijuana is currently controlled under Schedule I of

the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). In 2023, the

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

recommended to the Drug Enforcement Agency that

marijuana be controlled under Schedule III of the CSA.

Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with no currently

accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse, and a

lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under

medical supervision. Schedule III drugs are classified

as having a potential for abuse less than the drugs or

other substances in Schedules I and II, a currently

accepted medical use in treatment in the United States,

and a potential for moderate or low physical dependence

or high psychological dependence in the event of drug

abuse.

The recommendation from HHS included a determination

that medical marijuana has a currently accepted medical

use. That determination was based in part on a finding

by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health

that more than 30,000 licensed healthcare practitioners

across 43 United States jurisdictions are authorized to

recommend the medical use of marijuana for more than 6

million registered patients to treat at least 15

medical conditions

finding

by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health

that more than 30,000 licensed healthcare practitioners

across 43 United States jurisdictions are authorized to

recommend the medical use of marijuana for more than 6

million registered patients to treat at least 15

medical conditions. It was also based on a finding by

the FDA of credible scientific support to substantiate

the use of marijuana in the treatment of pain, anorexia

related to certain medical conditions, and nausea and

vomiting induced by chemotherapy. The National

Institute on Drug Abuse concurred with the FDA's

recommendation that marijuana be rescheduled from

Schedule I to Schedule III of the CSA. In May 2024, the

Department of Justice issued a proposed rule to

reschedule marijuana to Schedule III. The proposed rule

received nearly 43,000 public comments and is currently

awaiting an administrative law hearing.

The Federal Government's long delay in recognizing the

medical use of marijuana does not serve the Americans

who report health benefits from the medical use of

marijuana to ease chronic pain and other various

medically recognized ailments. Americans who often seek

alternative relief from chronic pain symptoms are

particularly impacted. For example, in one research

survey, 20 percent of participating United States

veterans reported using fewer opioids as a result of

their medical marijuana use. One in 10 seniors used

marijuana in the last year and some evidence shows

improvements

[[Page 60542]]

ymptoms are

particularly impacted. For example, in one research

survey, 20 percent of participating United States

veterans reported using fewer opioids as a result of

their medical marijuana use. One in 10 seniors used

marijuana in the last year and some evidence shows

improvements

[[Page 60542]]

in seniors' health-related quality of life and pain

with medical marijuana use. However, the current

Schedule I position of marijuana has impeded research.

The lack of appropriate research on medical marijuana

and consequent lack of FDA approval leaves American

patients and doctors without adequate guidance on

appropriate prescribing and utilization. One patient

survey showed that just 56 percent of older Americans

using marijuana have discussed the usage with their

healthcare provider. This places patients, especially

seniors who may be on multiple medications, at

increased risk of drug interactions or other adverse

events. The Federal Government must improve the

research infrastructure for medical marijuana to better

serve Americans.

In addition to medical marijuana, which is primarily

made up of two cannabinoids--cannabidiol (CBD) and

tetrahydracannabinol (THC)--hemp-derived cannabinoid

products, defined by section 297A of the Agricultural

Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1639o), have shown

potential to improve patient symptoms for common

ailments and are frequently used by Americans

made up of two cannabinoids--cannabidiol (CBD) and

tetrahydracannabinol (THC)--hemp-derived cannabinoid

products, defined by section 297A of the Agricultural

Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1639o), have shown

potential to improve patient symptoms for common

ailments and are frequently used by Americans. One in 5

United States adults and nearly 15 percent of seniors

reported using CBD in the past year, and chronic pain

patients have reported improvements with CBD use in

clinical studies. Furthermore, evidence suggests that

the amount of THC in hemp-derived cannabinoid products

can affect both pain treatment efficacy and adverse

events. Hemp-derived cannabinoids, as defined in 7

U.S.C. 1639o, are not controlled substances under the

CSA but are subject to the same authorities and

requirements as FDA-regulated products containing any

other substance. Adding complexity is the fact that

some full-spectrum CBD products will once again be

controlled as marijuana under the CSA when section 781

of Public Law 119-37 goes into effect because they

contain THC levels above the per-container threshold

set by that law. Further, a recent study found that

some commercially available CBD products evaluated were

inaccurately labeled regarding CBD isolate, broad-

spectrum, or full-spectrum composition, posing safety

risks for consumers. In short, the current legal

landscape leaves American patients and doctors without

adequate guidance or product safeguards for CBD.

some commercially available CBD products evaluated were

inaccurately labeled regarding CBD isolate, broad-

spectrum, or full-spectrum composition, posing safety

risks for consumers. In short, the current legal

landscape leaves American patients and doctors without

adequate guidance or product safeguards for CBD.

It is the policy of my Administration to increase

medical marijuana and CBD research to better inform

patients and doctors. It is critical to close the gap

between current medical marijuana and CBD use and

medical knowledge of risks and benefits, including for

specific populations and conditions. Research methods

and models should include real-world evidence and

should facilitate affordable access in order to rapidly

assess the health outcomes of medical marijuana and

legal CBD products while focusing on long-term health

effects in vulnerable populations like adolescents and

young adults.

Sec. 2. Rescheduling Medical Marijuana and Improving

Access to Cannabidiol Products. (a) The Attorney

General shall take all necessary steps to complete the

rulemaking process related to rescheduling marijuana to

Schedule III of the CSA in the most expeditious manner

in accordance with Federal law, including 21 U.S.C.

811.

al Marijuana and Improving

Access to Cannabidiol Products. (a) The Attorney

General shall take all necessary steps to complete the

rulemaking process related to rescheduling marijuana to

Schedule III of the CSA in the most expeditious manner

in accordance with Federal law, including 21 U.S.C.

811.

(b) The Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief

of Staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs

shall work with the Congress to update the statutory

definition of final hemp-derived cannabinoid products

to allow Americans to benefit from access to

appropriate full-spectrum CBD products while preserving

the Congress's intent to restrict the sale of products

that pose serious health risks. This will include

consultation with appropriate executive departments and

agencies and authorities to develop a regulatory

framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products,

including development of guidance on an upper limit on

milligrams of THC per serving with considerations on

per container limits and CBD to THC ratio requirements.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, the

Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Administrator of

the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the

Director of the National Institutes of Health shall

develop research methods and models utilizing real-

world evidence to improve access

[[Page 60543]]

to hemp-derived cannabinoid products in accordance with

Federal law and to inform standards of care.

the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the

Director of the National Institutes of Health shall

develop research methods and models utilizing real-

world evidence to improve access

[[Page 60543]]

to hemp-derived cannabinoid products in accordance with

Federal law and to inform standards of care.

Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order

shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or

the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget

relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with

applicable law and subject to the availability of

appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not,

create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,

enforceable at law or in equity by any party against

the United States, its departments, agencies, or

entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any

other person.

(d) The costs for publication of this order shall

be borne by the Department of Health and Human

Services.

(Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

December 18, 2025.

[FR Doc. 2025-23846

Filed 12-22-25; 11:15 am]

Billing code 4150-28-P