Weed Is No Longer Treated Like Heroin In The US And That’s A Big Deal

Last Updated:April 26, 2026, 12:05 IST

By shifting marijuana out of the most restrictive drug category, the US is signalling a major policy shift that could reshape the industry, even as full legalisation.

The US has just made a big change to how it treats marijuana, and it’s something the cannabis industry has been waiting on for years.

In a new move, the government has shifted marijuana out of the same category as drugs like heroin and LSD. It’s now been placed in a lower-risk group, which might sound technical, but it could have a real impact on how cannabis businesses operate.

For a long time, being in that top “most dangerous" category created a strange situation.

Cannabis was legal in many US states, but at the federal level, it was still treated as if it had no medical value. That made life difficult for businesses. They had to deal with heavy taxes, limited access to banking, and a constant sense of operating in a grey zone.

The move might help reduce some of the pressures. Businesses will now be in a position to cope with the challenges of financials management and other services and operate normally rather than exceptionally.

That’s a big deal, especially for an industry that’s been struggling lately with falling prices, high costs and tight cash flow.

At the same time, this isn’t full legalisation. Marijuana is still illegal at the federal level for recreational use. States will continue to make their own rules, which means things are still going to feel uneven depending on where you are.

But even without full legalisation, this shift matters.

It shows that the federal government is starting to catch up with what’s already happening across the country. Public opinion has changed, state laws have changed, and now federal policy is slowly moving in the same direction.

For the industry, the immediate hope is simple, that this leads to real, practical relief.

For everyone else, it raises a bigger question: If marijuana is no longer being treated like one of the most dangerous drugs out there, how long before the rest of the rules start to change too?

News viral Weed Is No Longer Treated Like Heroin In The US And That’s A Big Deal

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