The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered looser federal regulation of state-legal medical marijuana, in what advocates are calling a “historic” shift in federal drug policy. Under an order signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, many cannabis products will move from Schedule I, the government’s strictest drug category, to Schedule III, aligning them with tightly controlled prescription drugs such as acetaminophen with codeine.

The move follows President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the DOJ to pursue rescheduling and is expected to ease research barriers and offer tax relief to state-licensed medical cannabis businesses. Recreational marijuana remains unchanged for now, and banking access for cannabis companies is largely unaffected. Advocates say the change is a long-overdue acknowledgment of marijuana’s medical value, even as broader legalization debates continue. Read the full report at USA TODAY.