TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – The federal government is reclassifying medical marijuana from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III, a shift that could eventually expand access for Texas patients but changes little in the short term.<\/p>\n
The reclassification moves medical marijuana from the same category as heroin to a class that includes codeine, ketamine and testosterone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not legalizing marijuana. It\u2019s just changing the federal government\u2019s view of it,\u201d said Justin Roberts, a lawyer at Roberts & Roberts.<\/p>\n
What the change means<\/p>\n
Schedule III status recognizes accepted medical uses for marijuana, a departure from its previous classification.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re moving it to schedule three, which means that it has some accepted medical uses,\u201d Roberts said.<\/p>\n
Texas Original, one of the state\u2019s licensed medical cannabis operators, said the reclassification will give Texas patients easier access to medicine and ease financial barriers for operators across the state.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a major step forward as we continue to deliver the highest-quality medical cannabis to patients across Texas,\u201d said Nico Richardson, CEO of Texas Original.<\/p>\n
No immediate changes for Texans<\/p>\n
The reclassification does not change current Texas law.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis reclassification doesn\u2019t really change anything for day-to-day for Texans right now,\u201d Roberts said.<\/p>\n
Medical marijuana remains legal only for specific conditions, including epilepsy, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, terminal cancer, incurable neurodegenerative diseases, PTSD and all forms of cancer. As of September 1, 2025, qualifying conditions also include chronic pain, TBI, IBD and palliative care.<\/p>\n
As of late 2025, more than 135,470 medical marijuana patients were listed in the Texas Compassionate Use Registry, an increase of nearly one-third from the year before.<\/p>\n
CBD business owner sees opportunity<\/p>\n
Morris Anderson, owner of CBD American Shaman of Tyler, has sold CBD products across East Texas for eight years and relocated near Midtown Tyler two months ago. CBD does not require a prescription and is not the same as medical marijuana.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is gonna be the norm. And we\u2019re gonna get it figured out to where we can collaborate with the doctors,\u201d Anderson said.<\/p>\n
The DEA holds its next hearing on the reclassification June 29.<\/p>\n
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