During my years serving in the Missouri General Assembly, I have always prioritized the values of law and order, personal responsibility and limited government. I also believe in common sense policy. That’s why I support the rescheduling of cannabis at the federal level from a Schedule I to Schedule III substance — and why I’m encouraged to see President Donald Trump speaking positively about this important change.
The current classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance is outdated, unscientific, and un-American. Schedule I means a substance is considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. That simply doesn’t align with the facts.
Millions of Americans — including many veterans and seniors — use cannabis today for legitimate medical reasons. Whether it’s to manage chronic pain, ease the symptoms of PTSD, or reduce seizures, medical cannabis has real-world benefits. In fact, over 30 states, including Missouri, have recognized this reality and created frameworks for legal access.
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As chairman of the Missouri Senate Judiciary Committee, and during my service on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, I have worked directly on legislation and rulemaking related to cannabis policy. I’ve seen firsthand the good it can do when it’s regulated properly. But federal law continues to stand in the way of progress — creating obstacles for patients, veterans, providers and businesses.
If cannabis remains a Schedule I substance, access to cannabis-based treatments will continue to be limited for patients. Additionally, scientists will continue to face challenges in their research, given that the Schedule I classification requires them to go through bureaucratic hurdles that weakens their ability to further analyze the medicinal properties and benefits of cannabis.
Rescheduling cannabis to a lower classification under the Controlled Substances Act is not about legalizing drugs. It’s about giving states the flexibility to govern effectively and reducing unnecessary federal overreach. This is consistent with our Republican principles of states’ rights and a limited federal bureaucracy.
Let me be clear: I am not interested in promoting recreational drug use. However, I am interested in pragmatic reform.
Supporting rescheduling does not mean supporting a cannabis free-for-all. It means bringing our laws into the 21st century and making sure we don’t block medical innovation that could help those who need alternatives to traditional medicine, especially for our veterans. Right now, it’s illegal for a Veterans Affairs doctor to even discuss cannabis treatment as an option with a veteran, which just does not make sense.
President Trump understands the importance of keeping America strong, safe, and free. And he has demonstrated since Day 1 in the oval office that real leadership means being willing to make changes when policy isn’t working.
Rescheduling cannabis is the right move — not just for patients, not just for states, but for the future of conservative leadership in America.
