4 days ago
Trump weighs marijuana reclassification as Oklahoma eyes recreational legalization
President Donald Trump said his administration is weighing whether to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. This move could mark the most significant federal shift in cannabis policy in half a century.
"We're looking at reclassification and we'll make a determination over the next few weeks," Trump said at an Aug. 11 news conference.
The federal government lists marijuana alongside heroin and LSD as a Schedule I drug — the category reserved for substances deemed highly dangerous, addictive and without medical value. Reclassifying it to Schedule III, as recommended by federal health officials in 2023, would put marijuana in the same legal tier as Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids, allowing it to be prescribed by licensed medical providers and dispensed by pharmacies.
It would not, however, legalize recreational use under federal law.
What a federal shift could mean for Oklahoma
Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana in 2018 and more than 2,000 dispensaries now operate statewide. But under current law, adults can only purchase cannabis with a medical patient license.
That could change if voters approve State Question 837, which would legalize recreational sales for adults 21 and older. The measure cleared a major procedural hurdle in July and organizers have already started gathering signatures. Organizers have until Nov. 4 to collect at least 172,993 valid signatures to get on the ballot in 2026.
If Trump reclassifies marijuana to Schedule III, Oklahoma's medical marijuana market — already among the largest per capita in the nation — could see smoother banking operations, lower compliance risks for dispensaries and broader medical research opportunities. But the move would do nothing to authorize recreational sales in the state; that decision would still rest entirely with Oklahoma voters.
The push for SQ 837
Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action (ORCA), the group behind SQ 837, is betting that public sentiment has shifted since voters rejected a similar measure, State Question 820, in 2023 by a 61% margin.
This time, ORCA is pursuing a constitutional amendment, making it harder for lawmakers to alter or repeal the law without another statewide vote. The proposal would tax recreational sales at 10% while preserving the medical system and exempting licensed patients from the new tax.
The campaign faces new hurdles, including a 2025 state law limiting how many petition signatures can come from a single county. That means ORCA can't rely solely on the city center like Tulsa or Oklahoma City for signatures and will have to fan out into rural areas — such as Harmon County, where just 117 residents will be allowed to sign.
"Maybe we'll go and hang out at the co-op for a day or go to the county courthouse," ORCA Director Jed Green said. "Voters of Harmon County — get ready, we'll come out and visit."
Open primary supporters have challenged Senate Bill 1027 in the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which has not yet issued a ruling.
The bigger picture
Trump's comments come after years of fits and starts on federal marijuana policy. President Joe Biden initiated the reclassification review in 2022, and federal health officials recommended the downgrade in 2023. The Drug Enforcement Administration proposed a rule change in 2024, but the process stalled after Trump returned to the White House in January.
Terrance Cole, Trump's newly confirmed DEA administrator, has said reviewing marijuana's classification will be one of his first priorities, though he has not signaled whether he supports the change.
Trump said the decision is complicated, weighing the benefits of marijuana use for medical reasons against potential societal impacts.
"Some people like it, some people hate it," he said. "Some people hate the whole concept of marijuana."
If the administration follows through, Oklahoma's cannabis industry could get a boost in legitimacy and access to services — but recreational marijuana will still live or die by the state's ballot box.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Trump considers marijuana shift; Oklahoma advances recreational use
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