Trump has rescheduled marijuana, taking it from a schedule one drug to a schedule three.
In the United States, illegal and controlled drugs are ranked under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) using a five-schedule system based on three main criteria: medical use, potential for abuse, and risk of dependence. The higher the schedule number, the lower the perceived risk and restrictions.
Marijuana will remain illegal at the federal level, but the president says this will help with research efforts.
"The facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications when carefully administered in some cases," said Trump. "This may include the use as a substitute for addictive and potentially lethal opioid painkillers."
In an interview with AFN, Becky Gerritson of Eagle Forum of Alabama called the move disastrous.
"We're just flabbergasted that the president did this, especially when you look at the harms that marijuana does," said Gerritson. "It should remain a schedule one drug."
The organization known as Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) has shared similar concerns with AFN. Luke Niforatos, executive vice president of SAM, said marijuana is already heavily researched.
Much of that research has linked marijuana with impaired memory, attention, learning and changes in brain development.
Cognitive effects may persist with heavy, long-term use, though reversibility of such is debated.
About 9-10% of users develop negative impacts.
"There are 4,000 scientific studies a year," said Gerritson. "It is one of the most-researched substances out there, so, we really believe this is a false flag that that is not good research to reschedule it, and while rescheduling this doesn't legalize it, it does make easier access for this drug. It's a move in the wrong direction."
