On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at loosening federal restrictions on marijuana, a decision that comes despite significant opposition from some of his staunchest supporters in Congress.

“I pledged to be a leader driven by common sense, and this decision reflects that promise,” Trump announced.

He noted that numerous individuals, particularly those battling cancer and experiencing related pain, had advocated for this change.

Trump emphasized that the order does not equate to the legalization of marijuana. “This is not an endorsement of marijuana for recreational use in any form,” he clarified.

The president reiterated his firm stance against illegal drugs, making it clear that his position has not wavered.

“I’ve always advised my children to steer clear of drugs,” Trump said, urging young Americans with a simple message: “Just don’t do it.”

Trump’s executive order reclassifies marijuana from a Schedule I drug with ‘no currently accepted medical use’ to a Schedule III drug, primarily to free up the plant allowing it to be researched.

Marijuana business stocks spiked on Wall Street as news of the president’s decision on the issue was made public.

President Donald Trump sits in the Oval Office to sign an executive order to reclassify marijuana as a schedule III drug

The president cited the benefits of marijuana for medical use as a common sense decision

Senior administration officials described the order as the president keeping his 2024 campaign promise.

Last year Trump announced support for rescheduling the drug to allow ‘research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana’ even though he expressed his desire to ban it’s use in public spaces to prevent the smell from affecting cities.

A senior administration official told the Daily Mail that the president sided with a ‘common sense’ approach, to improve research into medical marijuana and CBD products.

‘The president has heard from so many people who have talked about the potential benefits of medical marijuana and CBD use,’ the official said.

Many America seniors, the official noted, were using the drug to manage ‘chronic pain’ and that the president was ‘very focused’ on opening it up for research into the health risks of doing so.

Trump’s action divides the political coalition that voted him into office.

Advocates argue that marijuana and psilocybin no longer rank with other deadly drugs like heroin and should be reclassified, allowing it to be studied. The decision will also encourage more banking and investment into marijuana businesses.

The rescheduling issue is also opposed by some pharmaceutical groups, who prefer Americans rely on legal medications for treaments. 

Traditional conservatives are generally not supportive of legalizing or streamlining any use of marijuana, warning of the societal and health consequences of doing so.

Several House Republicans protested the president’s decision, issuing a letter on Thursday morning warning Trump from sending the wrong message on marijuana.

The letter was signed by Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Maryland and 24 other GOP lawmakers to urge him against the decision.

Small marijuana plants, available for sale, are shown in a medical marijuana dispensary in Oakland, California

A venture capital booth is seen at the Cannabis World Congress and Business Exposition.

“Rescheduling tells our youth that marijuana use is acceptable and safe, a dangerous falsehood that will sink us deeper into our country’s drug crisis,’ the letter read.

Republicans expressed their concerns that loosening the restrictions on marijuana research would only enhance the cultural shift toward normalizing it’s use for recreational use.

“Rescheduling marijuana will not make America great. You have always been a role model for America’s youth, telling young people for years that they should never do drugs. We hope that you consider the harms of marijuana rescheduling and continue sending that strong message of hope to the next generation.”

Four senators — Todd Budd, John Barrasso, Tom Cotton, and Shelley Moore Capito, — joined their Republican congressional colleagues.

‘The only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors such as Communist China, while Americans will be left paying the bill,’ they wrote, citing marijuana’s link to mass shooters and depression, anxiety, suicide and psychosis.

The letter also warned of damage from marijuana use on ‘brain health’ and ‘permanent IQ loss.’ 

‘[F]acilitating the growth of the marijuana industry is at odds with growing our economy and encouraging healthy lifestyles for Americans,’ the letter read.