Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Thursday criticized the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to downgrade state-approved medical marijuana to a less dangerous drug. “Marijuana today is much more potent

The federal government is reclassifying medical marijuana, categorizing it as a drug with potential medical benefits and less potential for harm. While this doesn’t legalize marijuana nationally, it does open the door for further research into its effects.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said he is immediately moving medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, which includes drugs like ketamine, Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids.

The order places FDA-approved products containing marijuana and state-regulated medical marijuana products at a lower drug classification.

The U.S. government is easing some rules on medical marijuana, reclassifying it from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 3 drug, a move that aligns federal guidance with many state laws,

Medical marijuana is moving from Schedule I status, reserved for the most dangerous drugs like heroin and LSD, to Schedule III, like testosterone and steroids, which are less strictly regulated.

Local medical marijuana manufacturer and retailer Terrapin is lauding the Trump Administration’s move to reclassify the product as a less-dangerous drug. On Thursday, United States Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a Schedule III drug.

CNBC's Brandon Gomez joins 'Halftime Report' to report on the latest developments around marijuana classification.