Scoop: Trump reclassifies medical marijuana
President Trump's acting attorney general ordered the immediate reclassification of FDA-approved and state-licensed marijuana as a less dangerous drug Thursday.Why it matters: The move will make it easier to study medicinal applications of marijuana and could shore up support from influencers who support the research.Axios first reported Wednesday that the Trump administration was expected to move to reclassify marijuana, per an administration official familiar with the matter.The latest: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in a Thursday post that on top of rescheduling state- and FDA-approved marijuana from Schedule I to III, the Justice Department would also order a new, expedited hearing to reschedule all marijuana.The DOJ said in a news release that hearing would begin June 29 to provide a "pathway to evaluate broader changes" to the drug's status under federal law."These actions will enable more targeted, rigorous research into marijuana's safety and efficacy, expanding patients' access to treatments and empowering doctors to make better-informed healthcare decisions," Blanche's post read.How it works: Reclassifying marijuana eases U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration barriers to researching the drug's potential use cases. It would not immediately legalize marijuana, nor would it affect the sentences of those incarcerated for possession. Catch up quick: Trump signed an executive order to reclassify the drug last December, directing the attorney general to pick up President Biden's push to change the federal restrictions prior to leaving office.At the time, Trump said the move "has been requested by American patients suffering from extreme pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, neurological problems, and more."Zoom in: The government previously classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug, the same category as heroin, LSD and ecstasy.The new categorization would put it in line with ketamine and steroids.A drug's schedule is decided "based upon the substance's medical use, potential for abuse, and safety or dependence liability," according to the DEA.Go deeper: Trump wants to reclassify weed. Here's when to expect the marijuana rule changeEditor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated with more information.