(SeaPRwire) –   WASHINGTON, April 23, 2026 — The American Council of Cannabis Medicine (ACCM) today expressed its strong endorsement of the final order issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify specific marijuana products from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. This historic ruling marks a significant and much-needed advancement in updating federal cannabis regulations and broadening safe patient access.

This order means that FDA-approved cannabis-based medicines and state-authorized medical marijuana programs will gain recognition under Schedule III. This change affirms their established medical applications while preserving necessary regulatory controls. The adjustment brings federal policy into greater harmony with the current healthcare environment, where most states have already implemented comprehensive medical cannabis systems that serve a vast number of patients.

“This represents a critical juncture for patients, healthcare providers, and the overall medical system,” stated Mike Butler, Co-Chair of the ACCM Outreach Committee. “Moving cannabis to Schedule III confirms the expanding scientific and clinical research backing its medical use and paves the way for its thoughtful incorporation into conventional healthcare.”

Advancing Patient Access and Medical Integration
The rescheduling is anticipated to result in the following:

• Broaden availability of medical cannabis treatments overseen by physicians
• Speed up clinical studies and the development of pharmaceutical products
• Lower obstacles for medical professionals to provide cannabis-focused patient care
•  Foster wider adoption of medical cannabis in insurance and wellness plans

Enabling Sustainable Industry Growth
The directive also introduces vital structural enhancements for the medical cannabis sector, such as:

• Exemption from Section 280E tax burdens for operators licensed by states
• A new, streamlined federal registration process that works with current state licensing
• Less regulatory conflict via improved coordination between federal and state authorities

These modifications will permit law-abiding businesses to channel resources back into patient services, product excellence, and innovation, all while enhancing openness and responsibility industry-wide.

A Foundation for the Future
ACCM stresses that this move is a starting point for further development, not a conclusion. The group will persist in collaborating with legislators, medical experts, and industry partners to improve standards, education, and systems that enable secure, efficient, and fair access to medical cannabis.

“Reclassifying cannabis to Schedule III is a belated but crucial action that allows genuine scientific inquiry to proceed. Researchers have long been hindered from exploring its complete therapeutic benefits,” remarked Dr. Annabelle Manalo-Morgan, Chairman of the ACCM Research Committee. “We can now produce the necessary evidence, provide informed education, and guarantee that access is based on data—not prejudice. This benefits patients, scientific progress, and public health worldwide.”

ACCM continues to focus on progressing its national projects, like the Elevated States program and the Next Frontier platform, to aid in the standardized, lawful, and patient-oriented adoption of medical cannabis throughout healthcare and wellness networks.

About the American Council of Cannabis Medicine (ACCM)

The American Council of Cannabis Medicine serves as the principal advocate for the U.S. medical cannabis sector, representing an alliance of retailers, manufacturers, medical practitioners, scientists, insurers, patient supporters, and wellness organizations. ACCM’s Next Frontier program and platform deliver the foundational system that electronically links pharmacies, insurers, wellness groups, and doctors to facilitate patient access.

Established in 2016 as a working group on Capitol Hill, ACCM has grown into a nationwide body focused on increasing secure, efficacious, and just access to medical cannabis. This is achieved through policy development, clinician involvement, patient support, and creating standards that enhance patient safety, accessibility, and innovation.

Learn more:
Elevated States Program: www.elevatedmembership.org
Next Frontier Program: www.nextfrontier.us

The American Council of Cannabis Medicine

Media Contact:
Lexie Henderson
202-349-9650 ext. 800
412723@email4pr.com

SOURCE American Council of Cannabis Medicine