A federal appeals court has denied a request to halt the government's move to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III substance. The ruling, issued on September 9, 2026, by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, allows the rescheduling process that began in April 2026 to continue while the court hears the full merits of the legal challenge.
The motion for a stay was filed by opponents of rescheduling, including the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association and the advocacy group Smart Approaches to Marijuana. The court determined that the petitioners did not meet the strict requirements needed to pause the order. This decision is a procedural victory for the cannabis industry, as it allows companies to operate under the less-stringent Schedule III classification for the time being, which has significant tax implications.