Ky. governor asks President Trump to allow less dangerous classification for cannabis

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Is marijuana more dangerous than fentanyl or heroin?

Guidelines from the Drug Enforcement Agency have for decades said that marijuana is just as dangerous, categorizing cannabis as a Schedule I drug -- along with other hard drugs like LSD and meth. Now that medical cannabis is legal in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear is asking President Trump to allow marijuana to be reclassified as a Schedule III drug.

The governor sent a letter to President Trump earlier this week requesting him to keep Congress from blocking the rescheduling of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act from a Schedule I drug to a less restrictive Schedule III drug. 

"Patients suffering should have access to safe cannabis for treatment, and rescheduling would help provide more Americans – and Kentuckians – relief," Gov. Beshear wrote in the letter. "This step would also help make our communities safer and fuel more meaningful research around cannabis that could help more people."

Beshear's request comes about a year after the DEA proposed a rule that would change marijuana's classification to Schedule III -- which defines marijuana as having a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. The U.S. Department for Health and Human Services backed the proposal, which recognizes the medical uses of cannabis. 

Those plans hit a snag earlier this month, when the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies passed Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations language that would prohibit the U.S. Department of Justice and DEA from using funds to change the classification of cannabis from its current Schedule I listing.

"This is not common-sense law," the Governor wrote in his letter. "It stops a process that is already underway to accomplish a policy end that is overwhelmingly supported by the medical and scientific communities as well as the American people – of every political party. Congress should not take the decision-making process out of the hands of medical and scientific experts when they don’t like the results."

According to the DEA's website, there are five drug classifications, with Schedule I drugs considered to be the most addictive and more likely to be abused. Drugs on that list include: cannabis, LSD, ecstasy, meth, peyote and marijuana.

Drugs classified as Schedule II are considered dangerous with a high potential for abuse or dependance. Drugs on that list include: Vicodin, cocaine, meth, methadone, Dilaudid, Demerol, OxyContin, fentanyl, Adderall and Ritalin. 

Schedule III drugs include Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, steroids and testosterone. 

Drugs classified as Schedule IV now include Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Ambien, and Tramadol.

Schedule V drugs like cough syrup that contains codeine, Lyrica and analgesics pose the least risk of abuse or misuse. 

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