Reclassifying Marijuana: An Unexpected Trump Move episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 15, 2025 · 31 MIN

Reclassifying Marijuana: An Unexpected Trump Move

from The Smerconish Podcast · host Shane Pennington, Michael Smerconish

In this episode, Michael speaks with attorney Shane Pennington, a leading expert on cannabis rescheduling, about reports that President Trump is preparing an executive order to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Pennington explains what a reclassification would mean for consumers, the legal cannabis industry, medical research, criminal justice, and state–federal power. Michael also explores the contrasting New York Times and JAMA analysis questioning the medical benefits of cannabis—and hears from listeners whose real-world experiences tell a different story. A fast-moving, deeply informative conversation about federal drug policy, politics, and the shifting landscape of cannabis in America. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Michael speaks with attorney Shane Pennington, a leading expert on cannabis rescheduling, about reports that President Trump is preparing an executive order to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Pennington explains what a reclassification would mean for consumers, the legal cannabis industry, medical research, criminal justice, and state–federal power. Michael also explores the contrasting New York Times and JAMA analysis questioning the medical benefits of cannabis—and hears from listeners whose real-world experiences tell a different story. A fast-moving, deeply informative conversation about federal drug policy, politics, and the shifting landscape of cannabis in America.

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Reclassifying Marijuana: An Unexpected Trump Move

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This episode was published on December 15, 2025.

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In this episode, Michael speaks with attorney Shane Pennington, a leading expert on cannabis rescheduling, about reports that President Trump is preparing an executive order to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Pennington...

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