BOISE, ID – Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and attorneys general from seven other states have issued a joint statement opposing the federal government’s move toward rescheduling marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act.

In a statement released Thursday, Labrador joined the attorneys general of Nebraska, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Wyoming in raising concerns about an executive order directing the U.S. attorney general to complete rulemaking that would reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III .

The group said they believe existing scientific evidence continues to support marijuana’s classification as a Schedule I substance, citing concerns about public health impacts and community safety. The statement pointed to what the attorneys general described as increased risks to children and adolescents, as well as challenges associated with impaired driving.

The attorneys general said they have previously submitted formal comments opposing rescheduling and have communicated their concerns to the administration. While acknowledging what they described as good-faith consideration of their views, the group said the executive order raises new concerns.

According to the statement, the attorneys general plan to closely evaluate the order and determine how to proceed in order to protect public health and safety.

Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug under federal law, a category reserved for substances considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. A move to Schedule III would place it alongside drugs recognized for medical use but subject to regulation.

The statement did not outline specific legal actions but indicated continued engagement as the federal rulemaking process moves forward .