Federal shift could expand access for 8,000+ Monroe County veterans and thousands of local medical patients — but recreational use remains illegal

STROUDSBURG — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing federal agencies to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, a seismic shift in drug policy that could reshape how Pocono residents access medical cannabis and CBD products.

The order represents the most significant change in federal marijuana policy in more than 50 years.

What Changed Thursday

For the first time in federal history, the United States government formally recognizes that marijuana has legitimate medical value.

Since 1970, cannabis has been classified alongside heroin and LSD as a Schedule I substance — drugs the government considered to have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” That created a bizarre contradiction: Pennsylvania and 23 other states allowed medical marijuana programs while federal law treated the drug as worthless medicine.

Trump’s order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to move cannabis to Schedule III, the same category as Tylenol with codeine and ketamine — substances with “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”

“This action has been requested by American patients suffering from extreme pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, neurological problems and more — including numerous veterans with service-related injuries,” Trump said.

One point he emphasized: this is not legalization. Possessing marijuana without a valid medical card remains a federal crime. Pennsylvania’s recreational prohibition stays in place.

Why Veterans Matter Here

Trump specifically mentioned veterans — and that’s where the Poconos become particularly relevant.

Wayne County has the highest proportion of veterans relative to population in the region at 9.9%. Pike County follows at 8.5%, then Carbon at 8.4%. Monroe County has the largest raw number: 8,023 veterans as of 2023 Census estimates.

Veterans experience chronic pain at significantly higher rates than civilians. For decades, the VA system relied heavily on opioid prescriptions — a practice now recognized as having fueled addiction crises. Medical cannabis offers an alternative, but Schedule I classification meant VA doctors couldn’t recommend it, research was nearly impossible, and federal insurance wouldn’t cover it.

Reclassification begins dismantling those barriers.

The Medicare Angle

Buried in Thursday’s announcement: CBD may soon be covered by Medicare.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, heading the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, announced a pilot program allowing Medicare beneficiaries to receive CBD under doctor recommendation at no cost, potentially as early as April 2026.

For Monroe County’s substantial senior population, this matters. CBD products have become popular for managing chronic pain and sleep issues, but seniors currently pay out-of-pocket at dispensaries or buy largely unregulated products from gas stations.

Medicare coverage would mean pharmaceutical-grade products with doctor oversight and insurance paying the bill.

The Local Dispensary Picture

Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program has exploded since 2018, now serving more than 446,000 active patients statewide.

Monroe County residents access medical cannabis at Beyond Hello dispensaries in Stroudsburg (852 N. 9th Street) and Mount Pocono (3192 Route 940). Qualifying conditions include chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, cancer, epilepsy, and 20 other serious medical conditions.

Reclassification carries major financial implications for these businesses.

Under current law, marijuana companies can’t deduct standard expenses like rent and payroll from federal taxes. A provision called Section 280E — designed to prevent drug traffickers from writing off criminal enterprises — applies to state-licensed dispensaries, creating effective tax rates exceeding 70% for some companies.

Schedule III eliminates that penalty. Local dispensaries would be taxed like any other business, potentially freeing capital for expansion and price reductions.

The change also opens traditional banking access. Many cannabis businesses operate cash-heavy because banks feared federal prosecution. Schedule III should ease those concerns.

What Hasn’t Changed in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania remains medical-only. Governor Josh Shapiro supports recreational legalization, but the legislature hasn’t passed it. The state House approved a legalization bill in May 2025; it died in the Senate.

Patients must still obtain physician certification, register with the state program, pay an annual $50 card fee, and purchase only from licensed dispensaries. Possession without a valid card remains illegal. DUI laws treat any detectable THC as grounds for charges, regardless of impairment.

Timeline

Trump’s order is the starting gun, not the finish line.

The DEA must complete formal rulemaking including agency review, public comment periods, and potential legal challenges. When Biden initiated the same process in 2022, it was still pending three years later.

Trump’s order directs “expeditious” completion, but that’s relative in federal bureaucracy. Industry analysts expect months at minimum, possibly extending into 2026.

Twenty-two Republican senators signed a letter this week urging Trump to maintain Schedule I status. Legal challenges could slow things further.

The Bottom Line

For the 446,000 Pennsylvanians holding medical marijuana cards, Thursday signals eventual relief from the federal contradiction shadowing their treatment.

For the 8,000-plus Monroe County veterans, it opens pathways to research and VA engagement that didn’t exist before.

For seniors on Medicare, it promises regulated CBD products under insurance coverage.

For local dispensaries, it means tax relief and banking access.

For everyone else? Recreational marijuana remains illegal. The fundamental rules haven’t changed.

But the federal government, for the first time in 55 years, acknowledges cannabis has legitimate medical value. Where that leads remains to be seen.

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Information about Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program: pa.gov/health or 888-733-5595.

Monroe County Veterans Affairs: 570-517-3187.