Cannabis Is Moving to Schedule III

You may have seen headlines recently about cannabis being moved from Schedule I to Schedule III at the federal level. It’s being called one of the biggest cannabis policy changes in decades.

So, here’s what this means for you if you shop at a dispensary like Key.

What is Schedule III?

Under U.S. law, drugs are categorized into “schedules.” Schedule I drugs are considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule III drugs (like Tylenol with codeine) are recognized as having medical use, with moderate restrictions.

Cannabis moving from Schedule I to Schedule III means the federal government is acknowledging its medical value, which is significant.

Does this mean cannabis is federally legal now?

Nope! Cannabis is still not federally legal. This change does not:

  • Make cannabis legal nationwide

  • Change who can buy cannabis

  • Allow cannabis to cross state lines

  • Override state cannabis laws

Cannabis will still only be sold legally in states that have approved medical or adult-use programs, just like before.

Will anything change when I shop at Key?

No again. 

From a customer standpoint:

  • Store rules stay the same
  • Purchase limits stay the same
  • ID requirements stay the same
  • Product availability stays the same

Things in our stores will stay business as usual.

Why does this matter for cannabis?

While this doesn’t change day-to-day shopping, it could make a difference down the road.

For cannabis businesses, moving to Schedule III may:

  • Reduce certain federal tax burdens
  • Improve access to banking and financial services
  • Support more medical research on cannabis

Those changes won’t happen overnight (some may take years), but they represent progress.

Will prices go down?

Maybe eventually, but not immediately.

Cannabis prices are influenced by a lot of factors (state taxes, regulations, supply, demand). This change could help businesses operate more efficiently over time, which might lead to savings being passed along to customers. But there’s no instant price drop tied to this announcement.

Can I travel or fly with cannabis now?

No, cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, which means:

  • You can’t legally take it across state lines
  • You generally can’t fly with it, even between legal states

The bottom line

Cannabis moving to Schedule III isn’t legalization, but it is a meaningful step forward.

If you shop at Key Cannabis, you can expect the same experience you know:

  • Friendly, knowledgeable staff
  • Quality, state-compliant products
  • Clear, honest information

We’ll keep an eye on what comes next and share updates if anything actually changes for our customers. As always, if you have questions, ask us next time you’re in your store.