On December 18th, 2025, President Trump loosened marijuana regulations when he signed an executive order rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance.
While marijuana is still federally illegal, the executive order lessens the restrictions on marijuana, downgrades its risk for addiction, and allows the FDA to research medical uses for cannabis products.
How has the ERLC advocated on this issue?
In 2024, the Biden administration attempted to reschedule marijuana through proposed rulemaking, which the ERLC opposed through filing public comments. In those comments, the ERLC expressed Southern Baptists’ concerns about the public health dangers of marijuana and the negative impacts it has on individuals, families, and society.
What does it mean for a drug to be classified as Schedule III?
This classification change is intended to allow for more research and quality control of marijuana that is used for medical purposes.
As a Schedule III controlled substance, marijuana supposedly is now deemed to have a lower addiction risk, despite studies showing 30% of marijuana users develop Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). CUD is an addiction-based dependence on marijuana, for which the odds increase the earlier in life a person begins using marijuana.
Additionally, marijuana businesses will now have access to federal tax breaks and business deductions, funneling significantly more money into the predatory industry.
What did the ERLC do?
The ERLC privately urged the Trump administration to reconsider rescheduling marijuana ahead of the executive order, as it would negatively impact the flourishing of individuals, families, and society, a priority of evangelicals that President Trump has supported.
A federal move to reschedule marijuana sends the wrong signal to our communities about the safety of marijuana and encourages consumers to ignore the many health harms associated with this drug.
As such, the ERLC opposes this move and will continue to advocate for all necessary safeguards on marijuana.
Why do marijuana policies matter to Southern Baptists?
In 1973, messengers to the annual Southern Baptist Convention passed a Resolution on Alcohol and Other Drugs. In this resolution, Southern Baptists expressed a desire to “restrain commercial promotion” of harmful and addictive drugs, including marijuana. The rescheduling of marijuana would do exactly the opposite, making it more available, socially acceptable, and falsely benign in an effort to permit further use. This ongoing drug abuse epidemic is detrimental to the stability of a well-functioning society with profound impacts on historically vulnerable communities. Any efforts to normalize and make harmful illegal substances more acceptable is counterproductive to the flourishing of our neighbors.
Southern Baptists affirm and uphold the proper rule of law and desire the government to enforce our laws equally and justly. When states are not only permitted but encouraged to enact laws in violation of existing federal law and the federal government takes steps to reduce enforcement of its laws, it undermines the government’s responsibility to carry out this vital function.
Additional resources
Learn more about the ERLC’s efforts to oppose marijuana expansion.
