DEA reschedules a cannabis-derived medicine: Epidiolex (CBD)
2018-06 to 2018-09What Happened
FDA approved Epidiolex, a purified cannabidiol drug for rare seizure disorders. DEA then placed it in Schedule V, the least restrictive CSA schedule, emphasizing it was a narrow decision tied to an FDA-approved product.
Outcome
A single CBD medicine became prescribable nationwide under a controlled-substance framework.
It set a template: FDA approval + rescheduling can work, but doesn’t legalize the broader market.
Why It's Relevant Today
Trump’s order leans on the same logic—medical use and controlled pathways—without broad legalization.
