Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Blog
What Does the Reclassification of Marijuana Mean to North Carolinians?
Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule 1 drug. This classification is the same as other drugs, including heroin, ecstasy, and LSD. President Trump recently signed an executive order requesting Attorney General Pam Bondi to change the classification of marijuana. The order calls for reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule 3 drug. The change will allow for federally funded research because cannabis would be considered to have some legitimate medical purposes. There is no date yet determined for when the change will go into effect.
Drug Classifications
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) provides information about drug schedules. The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) categorizes drugs into various categories, called schedules.
Schedule I – Highly addictive substances that have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. These include substances such as heroin, LSD, ecstasy, methaqualone, and peyote. Cannabis is currently on this schedule.
Schedule II – These drugs are considered dangerous and have a high rate of abuse and may potentially lead to physical or psychological dependence. Some examples include cocaine, Vicodin, methamphetamine, methadone, oxycodone, fentanyl, and others.
Schedule III – Drugs or chemical substances that have a low to moderate potential for physical or psychological dependence. These substances are considered less harmful than Schedule I or II drugs but more harmful than Schedule IV or V drugs. Some examples include codeine in some concentrations (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.
Schedule IV – These drugs are considered to have a low potential for abuse or dependence. Some of the drugs in this category are Valium, Xanax, Darvon, Ambien, and Tramadol, to name just a few.
Schedule V – Schedule V drugs are considered to have the lowest potential for abuse. These drugs include those that are typically prescribed as antidiarrheal, analgesic, or antitussive medications. Some examples include Robitussin AC, Lomatril, and Lyrica.
Is Marijuana Legal?
Marijuana is still classified as an illegal substance, for the most part. The new federal classification means that although cannabis is considered less dangerous, it is still illegal. It is important to note that recreational use or possession of marijuana in North Carolina is a crime. Also, you cannot cultivate marijuana. Possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana is a Class 3 misdemeanor, which is the lowest misdemeanor. Possession of up to one and a half ounces is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Possession of more than 1.5 ounces is a felony.
Defending Marijuana Charges
It is essential to vigorously defend drug charges because a conviction can have long-term consequences. You may likely be facing more than one charge, such as possession of an illegal substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, for example. It is helpful to contact a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. In some cases, the evidence may have been gathered improperly and will therefore not be able to be used in court. Sometimes the charges are not easily proven, and the state may agree to reduce or even eliminate some of them.
If you are facing drug charges, don’t hesitate to call us immediately at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to speak with our experienced legal team.
The criminal defense attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC make it their mission to zealously defend their clients on a wide range of criminal matters at both the state and federal levels. These matters may include any charge from traffic offenses; DWI/DUI; drug charges (from simple possession to possession with intent to distribute and trafficking); gun permit denials; weapons offenses; and property crimes (larceny, breaking and entering, robbery, fraud, embezzlement, white collar offenses); to sexually related offenses (indecent exposure; sexual assault, crimes against nature, removal from sex offender registry); and violent crimes (domestic violence; assault; manslaughter; homicide, murder). Other legal issues that Arnold & Smith, PLLC criminal clients may be facing include restraining orders, restraining order and probation violations, expungements; appeals; and immigration issues related to criminal charges. Our criminal defense attorneys are passionate about ensuring that individuals empower themselves by being informed about their constitutional rights, and stand at the ready to fight in the defense of those facing criminal charges.
Source:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/18/politics/trump-marijuana-reclassification-executive-order
https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45948
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArnoldSmithPLLC?feature=watch
See Our Related Blog Posts: