What is current on marijuana or cannabis?
GoogleAI Mode: “As of late December 2025, the legal and regulatory landscape for marijuana in the United States has undergone its most significant federal shift since 1970.
Federal Reclassification
Schedule III Move: On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Attorney General to expedite the reclassification of marijuana from Schedule I (the most restrictive tier) to Schedule III.
Impact of Rescheduling:
Not Federal Legalization: This move does not make recreational marijuana legal at the federal level.
Research & Medical Use: It recognizes marijuana as having a currently accepted medical use, which is expected to “open the floodgates” for scientific and clinical research by reducing administrative hurdles.
Tax & Banking Benefits: Rescheduling removes the prohibition of Section 280E of the tax code, allowing state-legal cannabis businesses to deduct standard business expenses for the first time.
Drug Testing: The Department of Transportation (DOT) confirmed that until the formal rulemaking process is finalized, marijuana remains Schedule I for safety-sensitive worker drug testing.
State-Level Status
Legalization Statistics:
Medical: 40 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia now allow medical use.
Recreational: 24 states and D.C. have legalized recreational use for adults 21 and older.
Hemp Regulations: In November 2025, Congress passed legislation redefining “hemp” based on total THC concentration (including Delta-8 and Delta-10) rather than just Delta-9 THC. This change is set to take effect in November 2026.
New Federal Initiatives
Medicare Pilot Program: The 2025 executive order also directs the launch of a Medicare pilot program to explore providing seniors access to CBD-derived therapies.
CBD Regulation: The administration has called on Congress to establish a clearer regulatory framework for CBD products.”
What is current on marijuana or cannabis outside of the United States?
GoogleAI Mode: “Outside of the United States, the global cannabis landscape as of late 2025 is defined by Germany’s massive market expansion, a regional shift toward non-profit “social club” models in Europe, and a reversal of liberal policies in Southeast Asia.
Major Developments in Europe
Germany’s Market Surge: Since legalizing recreational possession and home cultivation in April 2024, Germany has become the world’s most populous nation with a legal adult-use market. By late 2025, medical cannabis imports reached a record 142.5 tons, more than double the previous year. However, the new conservative coalition government is currently reviewing the Cannabis Act (CanG) with plans to potentially tighten home-grow permissions and THC limits.
Retail Pilot Projects: Commercial sales remain illegal under EU law, but research-based “pilot trials” for retail sales are launching in 2025 in cities like Frankfurt and Hanover in Germany, as well as ongoing trials in the Netherlands and Switzerland.
New Non-Profit Models: Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany have moved away from commercial “dispensaries” toward cannabis social clubs (limited to residents), while Czechia is expected to follow suit in late 2025 with home cultivation and possession limits.
France’s CBD Shift: As of 2025, France harmonized its THC threshold for CBD products to 0.3%, up from 0.2%, but simultaneously issued sweeping bans on “neo-cannabinoids” like HHC and THCP.
Global Legalization Status (End of 2025)
Nearly 50 countries have legalized cannabis to some degree for medical or adult use.
Full Adult-Use Legalization: Currently restricted to Canada, Uruguay, Malta, and Germany (via social clubs).
Medical & Decriminalized:
Ukraine: Launched its medical marijuana program in early 2025, primarily for cancer patients and war-related PTSD.
South Africa: Remains legal for private possession and cultivation, though a regulated commercial market has yet to be fully ratified.
Oceania: Australia’s medical market is now the 4th largest globally, with sales exceeding AUD$750 million in 2024.
Regulatory Reversals and Crackdowns
Thailand: After becoming the first Asian nation to decriminalize in 2022, Thailand is re-implementing stricter controls throughout 2025 to restrict use to medical and health-related purposes, effectively ending its “Wild West” era of unregulated recreational shops.
Zero-Tolerance Regions: Most of Asia (specifically Singapore, Indonesia, and Russia) and parts of Africa remain strictly prohibited, with severe criminal penalties even for small amounts of CBD.”
What do the new legal changes mean in the United States for medical marijuana patients?
GoogleAI Mode: “The December 2025 executive order to move marijuana to Schedule III marks a historic shift for medical patients, primarily by recognizing cannabis as having “accepted medical use” at the federal level for the first time.
While the full rulemaking process will take time, here is what this means for patients:
- New Federal Access Pathways
Medicare Pilot Program: The order directs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to launch a pilot program as early as 2026 to provide certain seniors access to safe, non-intoxicating full-spectrum CBD products.
Future Prescriptions: As a Schedule III substance, marijuana could eventually be dispensed via standard pharmacies with a valid prescription, similar to ketamine or anabolic steroids, rather than only through state-licensed dispensaries.
Insurance Coverage Potential: Federal recognition of medical value paves the way for private and public health insurance to eventually cover medical cannabis costs, though this is not yet in effect.
- Lower Costs and Better Products
Elimination of Tax Penalties: Moving to Schedule III removes the Section 280E tax burden on cannabis businesses. This allows operators to deduct normal business expenses (like rent and payroll), which is expected to lower retail prices for patients as companies pass on tax savings.
Standardized Dosing: Rescheduling “opens the floodgates” for clinical research by universities and pharmaceutical companies. Patients can expect more rigorous data on safety, efficacy, and precise dosing guidelines for conditions like chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and anorexia.
- Strengthened Patient Rights
Reduced Stigma: Federal acknowledgment may reduce discrimination in sensitive areas such as child custody cases, organ transplant eligibility, and federal HUD housing.
Healthcare Integration: Doctors and nurses will have clearer federal guidance, making it easier for them to discuss cannabis as a legitimate therapeutic option alongside traditional treatments.
- What Stays the Same (For Now)
State Systems Still Rule: For the immediate future, patients still need to follow their state’s specific medical marijuana program (e.g., qualifying conditions and state registry cards) to access products.
Workplace Rules: Most federal and private employer drug testing policies remain unchanged for now, particularly for safety-sensitive roles regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
AI responses may include mistakes. For legal advice, consult a professional.”
Does this mean every state will have at least a medical marijuana program?
GoogleAI Mode: “No, federal reclassification to Schedule III does not automatically mandate that every state establish a medical marijuana program. State laws remain the primary authority for determining the legality of cannabis within their borders.
As of late 2025, the situation across the 50 states is as follows:
Current State Landscapes
Comprehensive Programs: 40 states and D.C. have comprehensive medical marijuana programs that allow a variety of products and protect patients from criminal penalties.
Limited “CBD-Only” States: Approximately 8 to 10 states (such as Georgia, Indiana, and Wisconsin) have highly restrictive laws that only permit low-THC or CBD products for specific medical conditions.
Total Prohibition: A small number of states—typically Idaho, Kansas, and Wyoming—continue to ban marijuana in all forms.
Why Rescheduling Doesn’t Force Change
State Sovereignty: Rescheduling changes how the federal government views marijuana, but it does not override individual state statutes that criminalize it.
Regulatory Paradox: While Schedule III acknowledges medical value, it does not make the drug “federally legal” for over-the-counter or recreational sale. For a state-legal product to truly align with Schedule III federally, it would likely need to go through the FDA approval process, which state-dispensed cannabis has not done.
Federal Funding Shields: Current federal law (the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment) prevents the DOJ from using federal funds to interfere with state-legal medical programs, effectively protecting the “hodgepodge” of different state laws that currently exists.
In short, while federal reclassification may encourage remaining states to reconsider their bans due to reduced stigma and new research, it does not legally compel them to change their own laws.
AI responses may include mistakes. For legal advice, consult a professional.”
Who are the remaining states that are being encouraged to reconsider their bans?
GoogleAI Mode: “While the federal move to Schedule III in late 2025 recognizes the medical value of cannabis, it does not force states to change their local laws. Advocacy groups and federal officials are primarily encouraging a small group of states with “total prohibition” to reconsider their bans.
The remaining states with no comprehensive medical marijuana program as of late 2025 include:
- States with Total Prohibition
These states currently have no legal access to marijuana for any reason and are the primary focus of reform efforts:
Idaho: Remains one of the most restrictive states. In 2025, lawmakers passed a mandatory minimum $300 fine for simple possession and proposed a constitutional amendment to permanently bar voters from legalizing drugs via ballot initiative.
Kansas: Marijuana remains fully illegal. While the state House has previously passed medical bills, the Senate remains a “roadblock”. New legislation (SB 294) was introduced in March 2025 to authorize medical use, but its status remains uncertain.
Wyoming: Continues to maintain a full ban with no active comprehensive medical program.
- States with Highly Restrictive “Low-THC” Programs
These states allow very limited medical access (typically CBD oils) but are being pressured to adopt “comprehensive” programs that allow for more effective treatments:
Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin: These states generally only allow low-THC or CBD products.
North Carolina: Legislation (HB 413) to legalize adult-use was introduced in 2025 but did not pass.
South Carolina: Lawmakers have repeatedly debated a “Compassionate Care Act,” but a comprehensive medical program has not yet been enacted as of December 2025.
- States Facing Impending Changes
Nebraska: Voters approved medical marijuana ballot measures in November 2024, but implementation has been delayed throughout 2025 due to ongoing legal challenges over petition validity.
Decriminalized but not Medical: North Carolina and Nebraska are noted as states where possession is decriminalized (fines instead of jail), but no legal medical sales infrastructure exists.
Key Barrier: The primary reason these states have not reconsidered is state sovereignty. Opponents in these states, such as Idaho’s Attorney General, argue that despite federal reclassification, the “negative impacts” and “public policy challenges” of marijuana use still justify local bans.”
Let’s talk about Idaho’s position. Why go as far as barring voters from voting on an issue impacting their lives?
GoogleAI Mode: “In March 2025, the Idaho Legislature passed House Joint Resolution 4 (HJR 4), a proposed constitutional amendment that would give the legislature exclusive power to legalize marijuana and other “psychoactive substances”. If approved by voters in November 2026, this would permanently strip Idaho citizens of their ability to use the ballot initiative process to legalize cannabis.
Lawmakers and state officials have offered several key justifications for this aggressive preemptive move:
- Promoting “Virtue and Sobriety”
The amendment’s sponsors frequently cite a specific section of the Idaho Constitution that tasks the government with promoting “the virtue and sobriety of the people”.
Moral Stance: Rep. Bruce Skaug, a primary cosponsor, has characterized the addiction, sale, and production of drugs as “one of the most evil things we deal with” and argued that the amendment is a way for the state to “go on the offense”.
Public Safety: Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and other state leaders maintain that current science still supports marijuana’s status as a dangerous drug, citing increased risks to children and a rise in difficult-to-combat impaired driving.
- Defending “Idaho Values” Against Neighboring States
With nearly all of Idaho’s neighbors having some form of legal cannabis (Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Montana, and Utah), lawmakers view this as a necessary barrier.
Border Protection: The amendment is designed to help Idaho “resist the wave” of loosening drug restrictions and keep acceptance of the drug from “seeping across its borders”.
Cultural Identity: Proponents argue that permanent prohibition reflects “Idaho values,” distinguishing the state from its more liberal neighbors.
- Preventing “Infiltration” by Direct Democracy
There is a long-standing tension in Idaho between the legislature and the citizen-led initiative process.
Retaining Legislative Control: Sen. Scott Grow stated that the amendment is about the legislature taking “responsibility” and ensuring drug policy remains with elected representatives rather than “overwhelming” them through repeated initiatives.
Reaction to Other Initiatives: This move follows previous instances where Idaho voters used initiatives to pass laws the legislature opposed, such as Medicaid expansion in 2018.
- Skepticism of Modern Potency
Officials have expressed concern that modern cannabis is significantly stronger than in the past, leading to worse health outcomes and more accidental ingestions by children.
The 2026 “Dueling Ballot” Scenario
Because this constitutional amendment must be approved by voters, the November 2026 election may feature two opposing questions:
HJR 4: Asking voters to give up their right to vote on drug legalization initiatives in the future.
The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act: A citizen-led initiative currently gathering signatures to legalize medical marijuana.
If both pass, medical marijuana would be legalized, but the door would effectively close on any future citizen-led attempts to expand or change the law.”
What do the new legal changes mean for recreational users?
GoogleAI Mode: “The December 2025 executive order to move marijuana to Schedule III does not change the fact that recreational use remains federally illegal. The order focuses specifically on medical research and recognized therapeutic use.
For recreational users, the practical implications are as follows:
- No Immediate Change in Legal Status
Federal Prohibition: Possession, distribution, and manufacturing of marijuana for non-medical purposes remains a federal crime under the Controlled Substances Act.
Presidential Disclaimer: President Trump explicitly disclaimed any intention to legalize recreational use “in any way, shape, or form”.
State-Level Reliance: Recreational users must still rely entirely on individual state laws. If your state has not legalized recreational use, it remains fully illegal there regardless of federal rescheduling.
- Workplace and Safety Rules
Zero Tolerance Policies: Employers can still enforce drug-free workplace policies and prohibit recreational use, even in legal states.
Federal Workers & Transit: The Department of Transportation (DOT) confirmed that its “zero tolerance” testing for safety-sensitive roles (like pilots and truck drivers) remains in effect.
- Potential Downstream Benefits
Reduced Federal Penalties: While still illegal, federal criminal penalties for Schedule III substances are generally less severe than those for Schedule I drugs.
Market Stability: Because cannabis businesses can now deduct standard business expenses (like payroll and rent), recreational dispensaries in legal states may become more financially stable, which could eventually lead to more competitive pricing.
Public Safety Research: Accelerated federal research may lead to better technology for roadside impairment testing, potentially creating clearer standards for “driving under the influence”.
- Impact on Non-Medical Products
Hemp and Delta-8: The executive order directs the administration to work with Congress to further regulate “intoxicating hemp products” (like Delta-8 THC), aiming to restrict unsafe or ultra-processed recreational products that were previously unregulated.
AI responses may include mistakes. For legal advice, consult a professional.”
How many countries of the world allow recreational use? How many allow medical? Both?
GoogleAI Mode: “As of late 2025, global cannabis laws remain a complex patchwork of full legalization, decriminalization, and restrictive medical programs.
Recreational Use
Only 9 to 11 countries have legalized recreational cannabis use nationwide, with varying degrees of regulated sales.
Fully Legal (Nationwide Sales): Only Canada and Uruguay have fully regulated commercial markets for all adults.
Legal Possession/Home-Grow (Limited Sales): Countries like Germany, Malta, Luxembourg, South Africa, and Mexico allow adults to possess or grow small amounts, but often restrict sales to non-profit “social clubs” rather than open commercial stores.
Unique Cases: Thailand remains in a legal gray area; while it decriminalized in 2022, 2025 has seen new government efforts to restrict use strictly to medical purposes.
The Netherlands does not legally authorize cannabis but famously “tolerates” its sale in licensed coffeeshops.
Medical Use
Medical marijuana is significantly more widespread, with over 40 to 57 countries having legalized some form of medical access.
Comprehensive Programs: Nations like Germany, Australia,
Israel, and Colombia have robust systems where patients can receive standardized prescriptions.
Recent Additions: Ukraine launched its medical program in early 2025 to assist with war-related PTSD and chronic illness.
Restrictive Programs: Some countries (like France and Japan) only allow specific cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals (e.g., Sativex or Epidiolex) rather than raw flower.
Nations Allowing Both
Most countries that have legalized recreational use also maintain established medical programs.
Canada, Uruguay, and Germany are the primary examples of major economies where both systems coexist, though medical patients often receive specific tax benefits or higher possession limits.
The United States is a global outlier; while 24 states allow both medical and recreational use, it remains federally illegal, though it was reclassified to Schedule III for medical research purposes in late 2025.”
What are the implications of cannabis remaining federally illegal?
GoogleAI Mode: “Despite the move to Schedule III in late 2025, marijuana’s status as “federally illegal” remains the defining conflict for users and businesses. This continued prohibition creates significant legal risks and operational barriers.
- Firearms and Second Amendment Rights
Continued Ban: Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), it remains a federal felony for an “unlawful user” of a controlled substance to possess or purchase firearms and ammunition.
No Exception for Medical Use: There is currently no exception for state-legal medical marijuana patients.
Supreme Court Review: As of late 2025, the Supreme Court has granted certiorari in cases (e.g., United States v. Daniels) that challenge this ban. A ruling expected in the 2025–26 term could decide if marijuana users have a constitutional right to own guns.
- Employment and Workplace Drug Testing
Zero Tolerance: Federal rescheduling does not legalize recreational use. Employers maintain the right to enforce drug-free workplace policies and fire employees for off-duty use, even in legal states.
Federal Employees & Transportation: The Department of Transportation (DOT) confirmed in December 2025 that its “zero tolerance” testing for pilots, truck drivers, and other safety-sensitive roles remains fully in effect.
ADA Limitations: Most courts have rejected Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) claims for medical marijuana because it remains a federally prohibited substance.
- Banking and Commercial Barriers
Laundering Risks: Banks handling funds from recreational “adult-use” dispensaries still technically face federal money laundering risks because those sales are not federally authorized.
Public Exchanges: Cannabis companies are still generally barred from listing on major U.S. stock exchanges like the NYSE or NASDAQ.
No Interstate Trade: It remains illegal to transport marijuana across state lines, even between two states where it is legal.
Bankruptcy & Trademarks: Marijuana businesses still lack access to federal bankruptcy protection and cannot obtain federal trademarks for their products.
- Collateral Consequences for Individuals
Housing: Residents of federal public housing (HUD) can still be evicted for marijuana use, as federal law overrules state legalization.
Immigration: Non-citizens, including legal permanent residents, can face deportation or be denied citizenship for “trafficking” or admitting to the use of a federally controlled substance.
Federal Benefits: Violations of federal drug laws can still impact an individual’s eligibility for certain federal government benefits and student aid.”
What do the new legal changes mean for cannabis researchers?
GoogleAI Mode: “The move to Schedule III in December 2025 significantly alters the landscape for cannabis researchers by removing decades-old regulatory hurdles designed for “high-abuse” substances.
Here is what these changes mean for the scientific community:
- Significant Reduction in “Red Tape”
Simplified Licensing: Under Schedule I, researchers were required to obtain a separate DEA registration for every individual cannabis study, a process involving extensive protocol writing and lab inspections.
Broad Use Licenses: As a Schedule III substance, researchers may now obtain a single, broad license that allows them to study multiple substances (like ketamine or steroids) and conduct various cannabis-related experiments without starting the registration process from scratch each time.
- Ability to Study “Real-World” Products
Moving Beyond Federal Labs: Previously, federally funded researchers were largely restricted to studying cannabis grown at a single facility (the University of Mississippi).
Dispensary Product Research: Schedule III allows research studies to incorporate real-world evidence, meaning scientists can finally study the exact products—including their high potencies and specific cannabinoid ratios—that are currently being sold in state-legal dispensaries.
- Increased Funding and Collaboration
Pharmaceutical Investment: The reclassification makes it easier for pharmaceutical and biotech companies to invest in clinical trials and apply for FDA approval for new marijuana-derived drugs.
Federal Grant Stability: Federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have been directed to develop new research methods and models to measure the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, specifically for treating chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and anorexia.
- Expanded Clinical Trial Participation
Lower Perceived Risk: Rescheduling lowers the stigma associated with the drug. Researchers anticipate that patients will be more willing to enroll in clinical trials for a “Schedule III” therapeutic substance than for a “Schedule I” drug of abuse.
Targeting Vulnerable Populations: New federal mandates encourage focusing research on long-term effects in specific populations, such as seniors, veterans, and adolescents.
- Regulatory Quality Controls
Standardized Dosing: Researchers are being pushed toward a 5mg unit of THC as a standard for NIH-funded studies to ensure consistency and better translate lab findings into clinical practice.
Safety Data: The new framework requires more rigorous tracking of safety and side effects, similar to other FDA-approved medicines, to provide doctors with standardized prescribing guidance they previously lacked.
AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses.”
What do the new legal changes mean for providers of cannabis including companies and dispensaries?
GoogleAI Mode: “The December 2025 executive order to move marijuana to Schedule III represents a major shift for cannabis providers, primarily by removing extreme tax burdens and paving a path toward traditional business legitimacy.
- Elimination of the “280E” Tax Penalty
The Change: Previously, Internal Revenue Code Section 280E prohibited cannabis businesses from deducting standard operating expenses because they were “trafficking” Schedule I substances.
Immediate Financial Impact: Once rescheduling is finalized (expected by late 2026), dispensaries and companies will finally be able to deduct ordinary expenses like rent, payroll, marketing, and utilities.
Profitability Boost: Effective federal tax rates for these businesses are expected to drop from roughly 60–80% down to standard corporate rates, potentially saving the industry over $2.3 billion annually.
- Improved Banking and Investment
Reduced Risk Profile: While rescheduling does not automatically grant full banking access, it lowers the “red flag” status of the industry. This is expected to encourage traditional lenders to offer more favorable terms for loans, lines of credit, and payment processing.
Institutional Capital: Major investment firms that previously avoided the sector due to federal risks are now more likely to enter the market.
Stock Exchange Note: Despite these changes, cannabis companies remain generally barred from listing on major U.S. exchanges like the NYSE or NASDAQ for now.
- Shift Toward “Pharma-Grade” Standards
FDA & DEA Compliance: As a Schedule III drug, medical cannabis providers may eventually be required to meet stricter pharmaceutical-level quality controls and registration standards.
Medical Integration: Dispensaries may see increased traffic as mainstream physicians become more comfortable recommending cannabis for newly federally recognized conditions like chronic pain and chemotherapy-related nausea.
- Continued Challenges
Interstate Commerce: It remains illegal for companies to ship marijuana across state lines, even between two legal states.
Adult-Use Conflict: Because Schedule III applies to substances with “accepted medical use,” state-legal recreational sales technically remain in conflict with federal law, creating ongoing legal ambiguity for adult-use operators.”
What about federal sentencing guidelines?
GoogleAI Mode: “While the move to Schedule III in late 2025 acknowledges marijuana’s medical value, it does not dismantle most existing federal sentencing frameworks, particularly for trafficking.
- Mandatory Minimums Remain Unchanged
Quantity over Schedule: Most federal penalties for marijuana are based on quantity (e.g., kilograms or number of plants) rather than its classification as a Schedule I or III drug.
Specific Statutes: Penalties are often codified in specific federal laws (like 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 960) that apply specifically to “marijuana” regardless of its schedule.
Trafficking Penalties (2025):
1,000+ kg or 1,000+ plants: Mandatory 10 years to life in prison.
100–999 kg or 100–999 plants: Mandatory 5 to 40 years.
Less than 50 kg: Up to 5 years.
- Immediate Relief for Minor Offenses
Advertising Penalties: Certain federal laws apply only to Schedule I drugs. For example, laws that ban placing advertisements for “Schedule I” substances in publications will no longer apply to marijuana once it officially moves to Schedule III.
Possession: Federal simple possession still carries up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine for a first offense. However, the U.S. Sentencing Commission reports that federal simple possession cases are now rarely prosecuted, with most occurring near the Southwest border.
- Recent 2025 Guideline Amendments
Independent of rescheduling, the U.S. Sentencing Commission enacted several amendments effective November 1, 2025, to improve fairness:
Base Offense Level (BOL) Cap: The commission capped the BOL at 32 (roughly 10–22 years) for people determined to have a “mitigating role” (lower-level supply chain roles like couriers or lookouts), preventing them from receiving life sentences based solely on the total quantity of drugs involved.
Criminal History Points: New rules help reduce the impact of prior state-level “simple possession” convictions on a person’s federal sentencing score, recognizing that many states have since legalized those activities.
- Future Outlook
Judicial Discretion: Experts suggest that Schedule III status may eventually lead judges to use more of their discretion to issue lighter sentences, as it signals a lower federal priority for marijuana compared to high-abuse substances like heroin.
Rulemaking Lag: Any formal changes to the sentencing guidelines manual directly resulting from rescheduling could take several years to finalize and would require additional proceedings to become retroactive for those currently serving time.”
What was on Schedule I with cannabis? What is on Schedule III with cannabis?
GoogleAI Mode: “Following the December 18, 2025, executive order to move cannabis to Schedule III, it has transitioned from the federal government’s most restrictive drug tier to a category reserved for substances with a recognized medical use and a lower potential for abuse.
Formerly with Cannabis in Schedule I
Schedule I substances are defined as having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Heroin
LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide)
Ecstasy (MDMA)
Peyote
Psilocybin (Magic mushrooms)
Methaqualone
Now with Cannabis in Schedule III
Schedule III substances are recognized as having an accepted medical use and a moderate-to-low potential for physical or psychological dependence.
Ketamine
Anabolic Steroids
Testosterone
Tylenol with Codeine (Acetaminophen with no more than 90mg of codeine per dosage unit)
Buprenorphine (Used in opioid addiction treatment, such as Suboxone)
Benzphetamine (Didrex).”
Does it matter if one calls it cannabis or marijuana? Are there other known names?
GoogleAI Mode: “In 2025, the choice between “cannabis” and “marijuana” is increasingly significant due to scientific accuracy, legal trends, and historical context. While both terms are often used interchangeably, they carry distinct connotations and origins.
Why the Name Matters
Scientific and Professional Use: Cannabis is the proper botanical genus name for the plant. It is the preferred term for medical professionals, scientists, and lawmakers because it is considered neutral and professional.
Historical and Cultural Context: The term marijuana gained widespread popularity in the United States during the early 20th century. Critics argue it was intentionally used in anti-drug campaigns to stoke anti-immigrant and racist sentiments by associating the plant with Mexican and African American communities.
Legal Trends: Several U.S. states, such as Washington and New York, have recently passed laws to replace “marijuana” with “cannabis” in all official regulations to distance the state from the term’s stigmatized history.
Industry Preference: While many still use “marijuana,” the legal industry and advocacy groups increasingly favor “cannabis” to frame the plant as a legitimate agricultural or medical product.
Common Alternative Names
The plant is known by hundreds of names globally, often categorized by their origin or usage:
Common Slang:
Weed: The most popular modern slang; likely refers to the plant’s fast-growing, resilient nature.
Pot: Derived from the Spanish term potiguaya, a cannabis-infused wine.
Grass / Herb: Reflects the plant’s natural, botanical appearance.
Mary Jane: An English play on the Spanish name “Maria Juana”.
Historical or Regional Terms:
Ganja: A Sanskrit word for hemp, commonly used in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
Reefer: A term popular in the 1930s jazz era, likely from the Spanish grifo.
Dope / Chronic: Often used to describe high-potency varieties.
Kif / Dagga: Regional terms from North Africa and South Africa, respectively.
Modern Gen Z Slang:
Zaza / Gas / Loud: Terms often used to describe premium quality or strong-smelling cannabis.
Broccoli / Trees: Visual metaphors for the flower’s appearance.
Key Distinctions in 2025
Term
Cannabis
Primary Usage
Scientific, medical, and formal legal contexts; refers to the entire plant genus.
Term
Hemp
Primary Usage
Legally defined in the U.S. as cannabis containing 0.3% THC or less.
Term
Marijuana
Primary Usage
Often specifically refers to high-THC cannabis that produces a “high,” though still found in older laws.”
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