US reclassifies marijuana, raising hopes of legalisation

US reclassifies marijuana, raising hopes of legalisation9 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleMax MatzaGetty ImagesThe US Department of Justice has officially reclassified how it views cannabis, a step marking a historic shift in the country's drug policy.The move changes cannabis, also known as marijuana, from a Schedule I narcotic to a Schedule III drug - placing it in the same category as Tylenol with codeine.President Donald Trump signed an executive order last year directing his administration to begin the reclassification process, in order to increase access and research of the drug. Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. Despite the federal ban, most US states have legalised the medical or recreational use of marijuana, and many have shops where it can be purchased legally.This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.Trump expands access to cannabis in a major shift in drug policyCannabis Drug legalisationDrug useDonald TrumpUS politicsUnited StatesLegality of cannabis