The order instructs agencies to develop a regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including possible limits on THC per serving and guidance on CBD-to-THC ratios. The policy package is intended to reduce barriers to research and to reposition federal regulators toward medicinal evaluation. A Jan. 12 analysis by public health and legal experts reached the same conclusion, saying the order is unlikely to materially reduce criminal penalties for many people. Employer drug policies, state criminal statutes and many regulatory frameworks would remain unchanged unless separately addressed by agencies or Congress. With cannabis legal for medical use in 40 states and recreationally in 24, and with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating about 30 percent of users develop cannabis use disorder, the administration's move is consequential.

Source: ABC News January 12, 2026 21:21 UTC