The U.S. Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) on April 23 pushed back against the Trump administration’s proposed reclassification of marijuana, saying it may lead to misinterpretations of federal regulations, and “complicate transportation safety and enforcement measures.” 

On April 23, President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general Todd Blanche signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, which AP News characterized as a major policy shift long sought by advocates who said cannabis should never have shared a federal classification with drugs such as heroin.

The order does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law, but Blanche said in a social media post, will “enable more targeted, rigorous research into marijuana’s safety and efficacy, expanding patients’ access to treatments and empowering doctors to make better-informed healthcare decisions.” 

The use of cannabis for medical purposes is currently legal in 40 states; and 24 states, two territories and the District of Columbia have legalized small amounts of cannabis (marijuana) for adult recreational use. It is still illegal to transport it across state lines.

“Looking at this change through a lens focused on commercial motor vehicle and highway safety, TCA has concerns that this reclassification could carry unintended consequences for an industry that prohibits truck drivers from using it,” the TCA said in a statement. “Notifications such as these often lead to misinterpretations of federal regulations, but even with the rescheduling, we must continually stress that marijuana use, even medical marijuana, is strictly prohibited.” 

The TCA added that reclassification may complicate transportation safety and enforcement measures. “Unlike alcohol, there is no universally accepted standard for determining impairment at the roadside, and it has been over ten years since the FAST Act called for hair testing as an alternative measure to satisfy the drug testing protocols prescribed by DOT,” the TCA said.  

The TCA said it continues to support this alternative measure, calling for the passage of HR 4320, the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Public Safety Improvement Act of 2025, a bill that would require positive hair test results be included in the federal clearinghouse.  

“This bill would ensure that motor carriers can share positive hair test results with other carriers through a clearinghouse, before they ever get behind the wheel of a truck,” said the TCA statement, arguing that the new measures would continue making U.S. roadways safer.