Federal drug policy took a notable shift on April 23, when Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche ordered state-licensed medical marijuana moved from Schedule I to Schedule III, a category reserved for substances with “moderate to low” dependence risk. The change acknowledges growing public support for medical cannabis but stops short of altering federal rules for recreational marijuana.

Critically, the move does not directly affect cannabidiol (CBD) products, which contain only trace amounts of THC and were effectively legalized when derived from hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill. However, CBD remains under regulatory scrutiny, with a Medicare hemp and CBD pilot and pending legislation that could narrow the legal definition of hemp later this year. For full context and ongoing updates, readers can consult the original analysis from Forbes Health.