PHILADELPHIA, PA (December 18, 2025) – Today, President Donald Trump announced the rescheduling of cannabis sales from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. In response to this situation, Senator Sharif Street issued the following statement:
“Rescheduling cannabis use is a long overdue, evidence-based step that confirms what communities and medical professionals have known for years. Cannabis is not in the same legal category as heroin and other Schedule I substances.”
For more than a decade, I have led efforts in Pennsylvania to modernize our cannabis laws because prohibition has failed – particularly for Black and Brown communities that have borne the brunt of criminalization. In the past, some have argued that federal classification must change before states can responsibly move forward. With this change already underway, Pennsylvania has a clear opportunity to take action by supporting the bipartisan Street/Laughlin bill to legalize and regulate cannabis for adult operate.
Changing the schedule alone won’t undo the damage done in the past. Real reform must include erasure, reinvestment in communities most impacted by law enforcement, and a legal, regulated adult market that prioritizes public health, public safety, and equity.
“Today’s announcement confirms what many states, including Pennsylvania, have already recognized: it is time to replace outdated policies with a rational approach based on science, fairness and justice.”
Senator Sharif Street’s statement on rescheduling cannabis sales appeared first in the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats.
