Alabama State Senator Tim Melson, a Republican and practicing anesthesiologist, is urging federal officials to reschedule marijuana, calling the move “urgent” in a new op-ed published by the Alabama Daily News.
Melson, who sponsored Alabama’s medical marijuana law—the 2021 Compassion Act—used the piece to advocate for reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the federal Controlled Substances Act. He argues that current federal restrictions ignore scientific evidence, create unnecessary barriers to research, and complicate patient access.
“As a physician and as a legislator, my duty is to safeguard the well-being of the people I serve,” Melson wrote, noting that his clinical experience has shown how cannabis can provide relief where traditional treatments fall short. “That is why… I proudly sponsored Alabama’s Compassion Act.”
Melson emphasized that Schedule I status wrongly asserts that marijuana has no accepted medical value and a high potential for abuse. He pointed out that Schedule III substances, such as ketamine and anabolic steroids, are medically useful but remain tightly regulated—a category he believes marijuana fits into.
He also made clear that rescheduling marijuana would not equate to nationwide legalization or loosen regulations around recreational use. “Critics sometimes argue that rescheduling opens the door to abuse or recreational legalization, but that is far from the truth,” Melson wrote. “Schedule III does not equate to a recreational free-for-all.”
The senator called rescheduling a critical step to supporting Alabama’s medical cannabis program. He noted that federal law currently hinders insurance coverage, complicates physician involvement, and restricts research that could improve patient care.
Melson concluded the op-ed by saying:
In Alabama, we took a bold step forward with the Compassion Act. Now, we must support policies that allow us to implement that law responsibly, informed by science and rooted in patient care. Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III is not just the right move—it is the necessary one and it is vital that leaders in our federal agencies look to President Trump’s leadership on this issue to get the job done.
Let us bring cannabis out of the shadows and into the realm of modern medicine—where it belongs.
The full op-ed is available via the Alabama Daily News.
