Cannabis Rescheduling – What does this mean for consumers and dispensaries?

President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order on December 18, 2025 stating, “The Attorney General shall take all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process related to rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III of the [Controlled Substances Act].”

Schedule I drugs are defined as: “drugs, substances or chemicals with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

Examples of Schedule I drugs are: heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy).

Schedule III drugs are defined as: “drugs, substances, or chemicals with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Schedule III drugs abuse potential is less than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs but more than Schedule IV.”

Some examples of Schedule III drugs are: products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, and testosterone.

This rescheduling does NOT make cannabis federally legal, but opens up the potential for better research of the drug which can lead medical professionals to have a better understanding of its potential medicinal uses.

Additionally, cannabis rescheduling affects the nearly 128,000 people who report using cannabis in their lifetime (2024).

New Jersey Cannabis Updates

New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission was formed on April 21, 2021 under the enactment of the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act, signed by Governor Phil Murphy on July 2, 2019.

In the past years, the New Jersey Medicinal Cannabis Program (NJMCP) has seen a steady decline in medical patients. As of April 15, 2026 there are a total of 47,967 medical patients which is a 1.89% decrease from the reported 48,890 patients in March 2026.

There are a total of nearly 290 medicinal and recreational dispensaries open in all 21 New Jersey counties. 7 of which have opened in the past month.

In 2022, the New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) launched the Cannabis Training Academy (NJ CTA), which has since had over 2,400 registered entrepreneurs, nearly 300 of which being cannabis employers or employees. With over 30 webinars and virtual student focus groups, this program has been recognized nationally as the most comprehensive cannabis technical assistance program in the United States.

For any questions or information regarding the New Jersey cannabis laws, please visit https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/ or call (609) 376-7300.

Stockton University’s Cannabis Program

Within the past 2 years, Stockton University has become the first university in New Jersey to offer a major in Hemp and Cannabis Business Management and a minor in Cannabis Studies.

The Cannabis Studies minor program began in Fall 2018 and the Hemp and Cannabis Business Management program began in Fall 2024. Both programs aim to teach students a foundation for understanding the burgeoning cannabis industry. Courses offered through the program range from Medical Cannabis (HACM/GEN 2347) to Cannabis Cultivation (HACM/GNM 2286). All courses are taught by professionals with experience in the cannabis industry.