On May 21, 2024, the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration issued a proposed rule that would shift marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, meaning no immediate reclassification took effect.
True
In May 2024, the agency announced a proposed Schedule III classification, not an immediately effective change from Schedule I.
INCREASING MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND CANNABIDIOL RESEARCH – The White House
Source: whitehouse.gov
At a glance
Verified September 1, 2026Key Evidence
On May 21, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration released a proposed rulemaking notice concerning marijuana’s transfer from Schedule I to Schedule III.
Additional administrative steps were required before the proposal could become effective. A Congressional Research Service report issued in December 2025 stated that the agencies had not completed final action when the executive order examined in that report was issued.
The available material consistently characterizes the May 2024 measure as a proposal, distinguishing it from a reclassification that took effect upon announcement.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
The federal measure announced in May 2024 was a proposed rule, rather than a completed scheduling determination. The Drug Enforcement Administration placed the proposal in the Federal Register on May 21, 2024, following the Department of Justice’s initiation of proceedings to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.klrd.govklrd.govMarijuana Classification and Implications of Rescheduling
jacksonlewis.comjacksonlewis.comDepartment of Justice Publishes Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Reschedule...+1 more
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