How to Deschedule Cannabis

How to Deschedule Cannabis

In the debate over cannabis legalization, one of the most important questions is whether cannabis should be rescheduled to a lower classification or descheduled altogether, removing it from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Rescheduling would keep cannabis under federal control with restrictions similar to prescription drugs. Descheduling, on the other hand, would remove cannabis from the CSA entirely — treating it like other botanical products such as herbal supplements, plant-based foods, or cosmetics.

Oaksterdam University advocates for full descheduling to ensure fair access, expanded research, and an end to criminal penalties tied to prohibition.

How Cannabis Descheduling Could Happen

There are several possible routes to descheduling:

1. Congress

  • Congress could pass legislation amending the CSA.

  • Bills like the MORE Act propose both descheduling cannabis and expunging certain cannabis-related criminal records.

2. DEA and the Attorney General

  • The DEA has the authority to reclassify or deschedule substances.

  • Advocates have petitioned the DEA for decades, citing cannabis’ proven medical benefits.

  • The Attorney General could direct the DEA to act.

3. The President

  • The President cannot directly deschedule cannabis but can issue an Executive Order directing federal agencies to halt enforcement of prohibition.

  • While symbolic, such orders can be reversed by future administrations.

4. The Supreme Court

  • The Court could overturn prohibition in a ruling.

  • A current legal challenge is moving through the courts, though success remains uncertain.

What the Future Holds

Even with federal legalization, the U.S. will likely remain a patchwork of state and local laws. States would still have the authority to prohibit cannabis production or consumption, and local approval would remain necessary for commercial operations.

Congress could also formalize a “states’ rights” approach, allowing states with medical or adult-use programs to operate without federal interference. While not full descheduling, this would provide more clarity and protection.

The path forward is uncertain, which is why continued advocacy at every level — local, state, and federal — remains essential.

photo of bullhorn with pot leaves coming out of it

How to Get Involved in Cannabis Advocacy

You don’t need to be an expert to make an impact:

  • Stay informed — Groups like NORML , Marijuana Policy Project , and Americans for Safe Access. provide tools to contact legislators and track bills.

  • Take action locally — Engage with state lawmakers, attend hearings, and join trade associations.

  • Vote — Support candidates who openly back cannabis reform and communicate with those who don’t.

  • Educate — Share the therapeutic benefits of cannabis and the economic growth legalization brings.

Learn Advocacy with Oaksterdam University

For a deeper dive, enroll in Oaksterdam University’s Free Advocacy Course.

This self-paced program reviews:

  • The role of advocates and organizations in normalizing cannabis

  • Strategies to influence meaningful policy reform

  • Practical techniques for engaging effectively with lawmakers

👉 Register for Oaksterdam’s Free Advocacy Course and become a voice for change.

Click here to see Oaksterdam's Courses and Programs
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