ANA, AANA Back Marijuana’s Reclassification to Schedule III: What Nurses Need to Know

On Dec. 18, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research, directing the Department of Justice to reschedule marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This reclassification reflects growing scientific evidence of marijuana’s medical utility.

Both the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) issued statements supporting this federal reclassification. The move reflects growing recognition of cannabis’s medical potential and opens the door for expanded research that could directly impact nursing practice and patient care.

ANA Supports Rescheduling to Advance Research and Patient Care

In its official release, ANA emphasized that moving cannabis out of Schedule I—the category reserved for drugs with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”—into Schedule III, which recognizes medical use with lower abuse potential, aligns policy with science. 

“Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III advances public health by expanding access to rigorous research, supporting evidence-informed clinical care, and reinforcing patient safety through regulated study and oversight,” the ANA statement said.

The association noted that clear federal guidance helps nurses and other healthcare professionals provide safer, evidence-based care. ANA’s longstanding position has supported research into therapeutic marijuana and related cannabinoids.

AANA Highlights Impact on Anesthesia and Clinical Practice

The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) also issued a statement supporting the reclassification.

AANA President Jeff Molter, MSN, MBA, CRNA, explained that the executive order expands “opportunities for rigorous research into how cannabis and cannabinoids can provide pain relief, and how they interact with anesthesia and perioperative care, strengthening the science that underpins patient safety.”

Molter noted that nurse anesthetists have contributed to research in this area, and expressed excitement about future collaboration with federal agencies and the clinical community. 

Broader Support from Health and Advocacy Groups

The federal reclassification has drawn support from numerous healthcare and advocacy organizations:

• The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) highlighted that moving marijuana to Schedule III could “help accelerate research into its medicinal applications and potentially lead to safer and more effective therapeutic uses.”
• National cannabis reform advocates, such as NORML’s deputy director Paul Armentano, echoed that the move “validates the experiences of tens of millions of Americans … who have long recognized that cannabis possesses legitimate medical utility.”
• Organizations focused on criminal justice reform, like the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), called the action progress toward addressing cannabis overcriminalization, while urging broader reform.
• Policy groups including the Marijuana Policy Project welcomed the rescheduling step as a positive development, though some advocates argue it doesn’t go far enough without full descheduling.

What This Means for Nursing Practice

Nurses are actively discussing the rescheduling across social media platforms, reflecting a mix of excitement and caution. Some have seen cannabis benefit patients, others raise concerns about safety and youth exposure, and many emphasize the need for stronger research.

For nursing practice, this rescheduling underscores the importance of evidence-based care: it encourages clear documentation, careful dosing guidance, and transparent communication about risks and benefits, while opening the door for more rigorous study that can inform safe, patient-centered use of cannabis in clinical settings.

As research and clinical guidelines evolve, nurses will play a critical role in translating new evidence into safe, effective care for their patients.

 

🤔Nurses, what do you think about this reclassification? Share your thoughts below.