Wyoming Attorney General Objects To Trump Reclassifying Marijuana As Medical

Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz filed an objection on May 27 against the Trump administration’s decision to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug under federal law, a move announced in late April. The federal rule, signed by the acting U.S. Attorney General, places FDA-approved marijuana products or those permitted for medical use in states under the less restrictive Schedule III category, aligning them with drugs like ketamine. However, Wyoming currently lists marijuana as a Schedule I substance, alongside heroin and LSD, and has no legal framework for medical marijuana, making compliance with the federal change impossible without legislative action. The objection argues that removing marijuana from Schedule I is a legislative decision, not an administrative one, and cites Wyoming’s law requiring a public hearing if the state’s drug commissioner (the AG) opposes aligning with federal changes. A contested hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 18 in the Wyoming State Capitol’s public meeting room W004, where residents can voice concerns or submit written comments via ag.webmaster@wyo.gov. The federal reclassification aims to encourage medical research and industry growth by reducing regulatory barriers, though it does not legalize recreational use. Wyoming’s stance contrasts with the federal shift, as the state lacks a medical marijuana licensing system and has not approved THC-based medicines beyond those already categorized under Schedules II or III. Critics of the federal change, including a 2023 study in the *American Journal of Preventive Medicine*, warn that commercial cannabis sales could exacerbate psychiatric risks for vulnerable adolescents. Wyoming’s objection highlights the state’s reluctance to adopt federal drug policy without legislative oversight, particularly in an area where public health and law enforcement priorities remain unresolved.