๐ง๐ฟ๐๐บ๐ฝ ๐๐ฑ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ท๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ ๐ข๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ & ๐ง๐ฟ๐๐ฐ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด
โ ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
On December 18 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to promote research into medical marijuana and similar products, noting that such research is currently hampered by marijuanaโs classification as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
The order also directs relevant federal agencies to work with Congress to update the statutory framework governing marijuana policy. In addition, the President instructed the Attorney General to take all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process related to rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III of the CSA โ in the most expeditious manner…โ and โFinal Hemp-derived cannabinoid products to allow Americans to benefit from access to appropriate full spectrum CBD productsโฆโ
With this designation update of medical marijuana โ what will that mean to the trucking industry, specifically FMCSA – whose regulations impose a zero-tolerance of all things marijuana?
โ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ & ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐
At this time there has been no change to the DOT regulations that specifically prohibit anyone in a safety-sensitive function from using marijuana or its byproducts โ it is still ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐น.*
However, that isnโt to say a change couldnโt eventually come, but as with all things government โ change happens slowly. With increased research into these drugs, it could possibly be found that they present a greater threat to those operating a commercial vehicle, leading to even greater restrictions to the industry. However, this order is simply a first step into allocating federal rules and resources into increased study of marijuana and cannabinoids.
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ
To those who are responsible for putting trucks on the road โ let your drivers and teams know: it is illegal for a person performing a safety-sensitive function (i.e. driving) to have marijuana in their system. We must ensure there is no misunderstanding or false information that would jeopardize your personnelโs safety and livelihood; so no matter what you hear regarding marijuana moving from a Schedule I to Schedule III (or Schedule II) substance โ for DOT purposes there has yet been no change.
*
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/…/increasing-medical…
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฏ๐๐น๐น๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป ๐ฝ๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
https://content.govdelivery.com/…/USDOT/bulletins/400bf94
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
โ ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐
The update to categories will be a great benefit to motor carriers who have been the victim of crashes that occurred out of their control. If you have any further questions on how to submit a crash for review or any DOT regulations questions please contact us! At ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ช๐ก ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ we will be glad to help you out!
