White House Directs Federal Expansion of Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research

Washington, D.C.; December 20th, 2025

The White House on December 18th issued a presidential directive titled “Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research,” marking a significant federal move to expand scientific study into the medical uses, risks, and long-term effects of marijuana and cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD. The action, released directly through the White House news desk, outlines a coordinated federal effort to remove longstanding research barriers while improving medical guidance for patients and healthcare providers.

The directive explicitly acknowledges that federal policy has lagged behind real-world use. Millions of Americans currently use marijuana or CBD products for medical or wellness purposes, yet federal restrictions have limited the scope and speed of rigorous scientific research. As a result, doctors and patients have often operated without comprehensive, evidence-based information regarding appropriate dosing, long-term outcomes, or potential risks.

At the center of the directive is a call for accelerated federal action to modernize research pathways. The Attorney General is instructed to move forward with rescheduling marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act, transitioning it from Schedule I to Schedule III. Schedule I substances are defined as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, a classification the White House notes has created substantial regulatory hurdles for legitimate medical research. Moving marijuana to Schedule III would significantly reduce those barriers while maintaining federal oversight.

The directive also tasks the Department of Health and Human Services with strengthening research frameworks surrounding both marijuana and cannabidiol. This includes developing improved clinical models, expanding the use of real-world evidence, and prioritizing long-term health studies. Particular attention is directed toward understanding impacts on vulnerable populations, including adolescents, seniors, and patients managing chronic conditions such as pain or nausea.

In addition to marijuana research, the directive addresses the rapidly expanding market for hemp-derived cannabinoid products. While CBD products are widely available, the White House notes that inconsistent labeling and variable concentrations pose challenges for consumers and researchers alike. Federal agencies are instructed to improve scientific clarity around these products, ensuring that safety, efficacy, and product consistency are better understood through formal research rather than anecdotal use.

The directive further emphasizes coordination with Congress, directing senior White House officials to work with lawmakers to support responsible access to medically relevant cannabinoid products while maintaining safeguards against products that may present public health risks. The stated goal is not broad deregulation, but structured research expansion grounded in medical science and regulatory accountability.

Importantly, the White House frames the directive as a research-focused initiative rather than a legalization measure. It does not mandate changes to state law, nor does it establish new commercial frameworks. Instead, it seeks to align federal scientific policy with current medical realities by enabling researchers to answer questions that have remained unresolved for decades due to regulatory constraints.

The White House also highlights that improved research is essential for informed decision-making by healthcare providers. Without comprehensive studies, clinicians have lacked authoritative guidance on how marijuana or CBD may interact with other medications, affect long-term health outcomes, or provide measurable benefits for specific conditions. The directive positions expanded research as a necessary step toward evidence-based care rather than assumption-driven treatment.

By directing federal agencies to streamline approvals, modernize study models, and prioritize patient-relevant outcomes, the administration states that it aims to close the gap between widespread public use and limited scientific understanding. The action signals a shift toward treating marijuana and cannabidiol as subjects of legitimate medical inquiry rather than solely as controlled substances.

While the directive does not set a fixed timeline for completion of rescheduling or research milestones, it establishes a clear federal mandate: barriers that have historically slowed medical marijuana and CBD research are to be addressed through coordinated executive action. The White House frames the effort as essential to public health, medical transparency, and informed policy development moving forward.

Sources

Primary First-Hand Sources

• THE WHITE HOUSE, Presidential Action: “Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research,” issued December 18th, 2025.
• THE WHITE HOUSE, Fact Sheet: “President Donald J. Trump Is Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research,” released December 18th, 2025.