Trump Administration Eases Medical Marijuana Rules as Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Extended for Three Weeks

President Trump announced on Thursday that the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by three weeks following talks at the White House. This extension aims to maintain the fragile truce to pause fighting between the Israeli military and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The announcement came amid ongoing regional tensions, including increased naval activity in the Strait of Hormuz and recent maritime incidents involving Iranian forces.

In a separate but related development, the Trump administration is easing federal restrictions on medical marijuana by reclassifying it from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed the order, which moves marijuana into a category that includes drugs such as Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids. The change acknowledges the longstanding regulation of medical marijuana by state governments and seeks to allow for more research on its safety, and efficacy.

The policy shift does not immediately affect recreational marijuana use. Instead, it applies specifically to two types of marijuana products: those that are FDA-approved and those regulated under state medical marijuana licenses. The Drug Enforcement Agency is scheduled to hold hearings in late June to consider broader rescheduling efforts beyond medical programs.

These developments were reported in the context of broader national security and public health policy shifts. While the ceasefire extension addresses immediate concerns about regional stability, the marijuana policy change reflects an evolving federal approach to substances increasingly legalized at the state level. Both announcements were made public on April 24, 2026, and have drawn attention for their potential impact on international relations and domestic health policy.