ACROSS GEORGIA (WALB) - For Joe Salome, co-founder of Georgia Hemp Company, President Trump’s executive order to reclassify marijuana means more than business survival — it could reduce the stigma his customers face.

Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to move marijuana from Schedule 1 — alongside heroin — to Schedule 3, which recognizes medical use. While it doesn’t legalize marijuana or change Georgia law, hemp business owners say federal acceptance could shift how society views their customers.

A Threatened Industry

In November, Salome’s business faced an uncertain future when Congress passed a law restricting hemp products with more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container. The restriction, which takes effect in November 2026, would ban most CBD products currently on the market.

“The recent legislation has tightened the hemp rules,” Salome said. “They changed the definition of THC to include total THC. They capped intoxicating cannabinoids and closed loopholes for a lot of synthetics. That complicates rescheduling. Federal boundaries need to be clarified.”

Despite the complexity, Salome says Trump’s order is a step toward changing something more important: how people view those who use hemp and CBD products.

“This is a win,” he said. “It aligns federal policy closer to science and public opinion. It helps patients with chronic pain, cancer, seizures, all these different things.”

Georgia’s Medical Marijuana Journey

Georgia has allowed possession of low-THC cannabis oil since 2015, when lawmakers passed Haleigh’s Hope Act. The law was named for Haleigh Cox, who suffered hundreds of seizures a day before accessing cannabis oil. But even with state legal protection, families and businesses have operated in a gray area, with federal law still classifying marijuana alongside heroin.

Federal Action

Trump’s order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to expedite moving marijuana to Schedule 3 status. Schedule 3 drugs have “a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence,” according to the DEA.

The order also calls on the White House and Congress to update the definition of hemp-derived products after the November funding bill restricted THC levels.

Looking Forward

For Salome, the order represents progress, even as his business faces uncertainty from the November restrictions.

“Hemp is recreational adult-use cannabis for the entire country. That’s where hemp filled in. And now they’re taking that away,” Salome said. “But I’ve got to think bigger as an industry and respect and understand that this is progress. This is getting us baby steps toward where we’ve always wanted to get. And that’s access to cannabis for everybody without hurdles.”

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