The Florida Policy Project (FPP) is committed to advancing evidence-based policies and practices that improve the lives of Floridians. I founded and currently lead the FPP, where we conduct rigorous research, analyze data and work to provide education to policymakers and the public on critical issues Florida is facing. An issue that has been top of mind for myself and the FPP is the rescheduling of cannabis. The move to reschedule cannabis is a clear example of where evidence should lead the way, not outdated research and negative stigma.

Before I founded the FPP, I had the privilege of representing my constituents in the Florida State Senate from 2016 to 2022. During that time, I advocated for policies that reflected similar values of evidence-based decision-making.

Throughout my time in the Florida Senate, I filed numerous bills aimed at expanding the rights of individuals to access and use marijuana. My stance has always been clear: The government should not infringe on personal freedoms when it comes to decisions that are inherently personal. However, my support for legalization has never just been a matter of ideology; it’s based on a firm commitment to policies that work — policies grounded in evidence, research and the best available data.

It is for this reason that I support rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. This change is not just symbolic; it’s a vital step toward correcting a historic wrong and ensuring that marijuana policy is aligned with current scientific understanding. Fortunately, this change has President Donald Trump’s full support and hopefully, we’ll be able to see his administration get this across the finish line.

For decades, cannabis has been classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. According to the federal government’s definition, Schedule I drugs are considered to have a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision and a high potential for abuse. This categorization is, quite simply, outdated and unsupported by modern research.

Cannabis, as data has proven, has legitimate medical uses, ranging from pain relief to the treatment of epilepsy, anxiety and other conditions. The medical community has overwhelmingly recognized the therapeutic value of cannabis, with more than 40 states, including Florida, now allowing medical marijuana programs. To continue to classify it as a Schedule I drug flies in the face of decades of evidence showing that cannabis is medically useful.

When rescheduled to Schedule III, cannabis would still be subject to regulation, but it would allow for greater access to research and treatment. Currently, scientists have to go through numerous hurdles in order to complete any research on cannabis. Challenges include limited sources of cannabis and having to apply for special licenses, both of which slow progress in the field. Rescheduling cannabis would open the door to better scientific inquiry, more reliable data and a more responsible approach to marijuana use.

If we’re truly committed to a policy that serves the public good, we must rely on evidence rather than political ideology. The data on cannabis use, its medical benefits and its relative safety compared to other substances are overwhelming. Federal agencies should make policy decisions based on the facts, not outdated notions rooted in prohibition and fear. And President Trump understands that.

The rescheduling of cannabis would be a victory for liberty, for science and for common sense. It’s time for our policies to catch up with the evidence. It’s time to reschedule cannabis.

Jeff Brandes is the founder and president of the Florida Policy Project, a non-profit, non-partisan research institute that advocates for evidence-based policies to improve the lives of Floridians. He previously served in the Florida Legislature from 2010 to 2022.