Congressmember Randy Fine (R-FL) has joined the growing chorus of Republican lawmakers publicly supporting marijuana rescheduling, penning a Newsmax op-ed titled “Past Time to Reschedule Marijuana.”

His piece comes just days after fellow Florida Republican Brian Mast wrote in the Washington Times that rescheduling marijuana is “the responsible choice for America.”

In his op-ed, Fine urged the Trump administration to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, a shift that would acknowledge medical value while easing barriers to research and business operations. He criticized the federal government’s current approach, which classifies marijuana alongside heroin and LSD, as outdated and harmful.

“Even though marijuana is legal under state law for all adults in 24 states and is legal for those with various medical conditions under state law in 40 out of 50 states, the federal government still categorizes marijuana in the same way as we do for illegal fentanyl, heroin and LSD,” Fine wrote. “That clearly is no longer the case.”

Fine noted that the Schedule I designation restricts scientific study, creates burdens for state-legal businesses, and harms patients. He highlighted how medical marijuana users can be denied transplants, evicted from HUD housing, or even lose child custody despite following state law. “Both advocates and opponents should always want to learn more,” he argued, pointing to research restrictions as “crazy.”

Although Fine made clear that he opposes full legalization for recreational use, he said rescheduling is necessary to expand medical understanding, regulate markets, and better protect children.

“Moving marijuana out of the dark ages and into current reality also means we can better regulate sales and distribution, we can monitor the safety of products, and we can take more affirmative actions to educate and protect children from using cannabis products just like we do for alcohol products,” he wrote.

Fine also contrasted the Trump administration with the Biden administration, which initiated rescheduling but failed to follow through.

“The time to reschedule marijuana is now and frankly, it makes no sense to wait any longer,” he concluded. “Rescheduling marijuana from I to III is not only the smart thing to do, it is the right thing to do.”

With Fine and Mast both publishing op-eds in the span of a week, and former Florida Senator Joe Gruters recently becoming the first GOP leader to ever support legalizing cannabis, Florida Republicans are increasingly at the forefront of a GOP shift toward supporting marijuana reform.