MISSOULA, Mont. – The Trump administration is considering a significant change in the classification of marijuana under federal law.

A proposed executive order aims to move cannabis from a Schedule One drug to a Schedule Three.

This reclassification would recognize medical use and open doors for new research and potential tax relief. For Montana’s legal cannabis industry, this shift could be highly impactful.

James Stephens, CEO of Missoula-based Sinful Beverages, emphasized the potential for tax relief to reshape the industry.

“We’re absolutely going to see the ability of tax relief to occur for cannabis companies at the state level. And I think that’s going to lead to, you know, kind of a surge in hiring and jobs and actually reinvestment as we see the federal government ease up restrictions on it,” Stephens said.

Beyond the business impacts, industry experts highlight the potential changes in scientific research. They believe rescheduling could enhance consumer understanding, product safety and medical use.

Some Montana growers feel that these advancements in research are long overdue.