While cannabis is legal in Vermont and New York, it remains federally classified as a Schedule 1 drug alongside heroin and ecstasy. However, that could soon change.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 3 drug under federal law. The move would not legalize marijuana on a federal level, but Trump said it could expand research into its medical effects, particularly for patients managing chronic conditions.

“We have people begging for me to do this — people that are in great pain,” Trump said while discussing the order. “For decades, this action has been requested by American patients.”

Schedule 1 drugs are defined as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Reclassifying marijuana to Schedule 3 would place it among drugs recognized for medical use under federal law, such as Tylenol.

Trump said the change could help pave the way for additional scientific research.

“Hopefully this reclassification — which, by the way, polls at 82% — will help many of those patients live a far better life,” he said.

The announcement has left medical marijuana users in Vermont optimistic.

Cameron Main, a Vermont medical cannabis cardholder, said the move could help legitimize marijuana’s medical use and reduce stigma.

“I think it’s going to open up a lot more general studies,” Main said. “It’s going to allow more people to see the actual facts about how it does help people and how it is helping people.”

Main has been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. He said cannabis has played an important role in managing his painful symptoms.

“I started using edibles specifically to help with my stomach issues,” Main said. “It also helps a lot with anxiety and insomnia.”

From behind the sales counter at Sweet Spot Dispensary in Essex Junction, Main shares his experience and knowledge of cannabis with customers. Now, he said he hopes reclassification could lead to broader acceptance and understanding.

“I think a lot of people still have a stigma that it’s a really harsh drug,” he said. “I think we’ll see a big shift, with more people willing to try it for the first time and see how beneficial it really is.”

Before any changes take effect, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration must complete the formal reclassification process. There is no set timeline for when that could happen.