Despite growing outcry, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that directs federal agencies to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, purportedly in order to expand research for potential medicinal uses of the narcotic. Republican lawmakers and experts are strongly opposed to the move, saying that it will further exacerbate a host of societal ills, including increasing the rate of serious health problems, addiction, drug use of minors, birth defects, crime, car crashes, and more.

In justifying the order, Trump remarked, “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, and older Americans who live with chronic medical problems that severely degrade their quality of life.”

Following years of public advocacy against drug use, Trump has orchestrated a remarkable reversal in his position on marijuana in recent months. Following rumors that his administration was considering rescheduling the drug, Trump confirmed in August that they were “looking at it,” citing “medical” reasons to reduce pain. On Tuesday, the president confirmed that his administration was “looking at that very strongly,” saying that “a lot of people want to see the reclassification, because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can’t be done unless you reclassify.”

The apparent about-face on cannabis has come after heavy lobbying from the marijuana industry, who have reportedly “contributed millions of dollars” to Trump’s political organizations. Experts have noted that marijuana businesses will see enormous tax breaks and improved banking access now that the drug will be rescheduled. A new Schedule III classification will put the narcotic in the same category as Tylenol with codeine, testosterone, anabolic steroids, and ketamine, which are described as having “a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”

But data show that a significant number of marijuana users become addicted to the drug, with “10% of people who begin smoking cannabis” becoming addicted and “30% of current users meet[ing] the criteria for addiction.”

In addition, experts like Luke Niforatos, who serves as executive vice president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, say that no medical application for marijuana has been approved despite years of study. “[T]he idea that marijuana would go down to [Schedule] III makes no sense because marijuana is not an approved medication,” he emphasized during “Washington Watch” Wednesday. “You can’t smoke your medicine. And marijuana has gotten much more harmful and more addictive than ever before. That’s what all the research is telling us.”

Niforatos further noted that what the research has revealed is greatly alarming.

“President Trump said a few days ago [that] we need to reschedule it so we can research it. We have more than 50,000 research studies on marijuana,” he pointed out. “We know everything about the drug. We know about its addictive potential. We know now about the growing trend of increased potency. In the 1970s, marijuana was 2-3% potent in your average joint. Now we’re talking about new kinds of products like candies, gummies, waxes, [and] shatters that are up to 99% potent. … And now we’re seeing the link with psychosis, schizophrenia, all kinds of mental illness. It’s causing violence. [I]n basically every one of the last dozen or so shootings and violent events we’ve seen over the last couple of years here in our country, the common denominator was marijuana use for those shooters and perpetrators. So we’re seeing a lot of very concerning data now.”

Other experts like Family Research Council President Tony Perkins further elaborated on the concerning data.

“[T]here was a 2017 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine [that] concluded there was substantial evidence that marijuana use is associated with developing problem use in other [harder] substances,” he highlighted during “Washington Watch.” “But we also have states like Colorado that have legalized marijuana, and they speak very openly about the problems. They have more accidents with automobiles related to marijuana.” A study out of Ohio also reported huge percentages of drivers involved in fatal car accidents testing positive for the drug.

Perkins went on to underscore a puzzling contradiction in the current drug policies of the Trump administration.

“The administration is fighting a shooting war against drug traffickers in the Caribbean, while at the same time talking about decriminalizing marijuana and normalizing it here at home,” he observed. “… [I]t’s a glaring policy contradiction. I mean, you can’t tell our troops that these substances are dangerous enough to justify lighting up drug boats with missiles and then telling teenagers here at home it’s okay to light up a joint in the backyard. … And then not to mention … our National Defense Authorization Act for the last several years has been funding and promoting the use of psychedelic drugs to treat post-traumatic stress syndrome. So there’s a striking incoherence in our policy.”

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have also voiced their concerns over the drug’s dangers. On Wednesday, 22 Republican senators sent a letter to Trump urging him not to reschedule the narcotic. The group, led by Ted Budd (N.C.) and John Barrasso (Wyo.), highlighted marijuana’s links to “depression, anxiety, suicide planning, and psychotic episodes” as well as crime, “permanent IQ loss,” “industrial accidents, injuries, and absenteeism among employees,” and more. In addition, the lawmakers detailed how “marijuana companies would obtain a $2.3 billion tax break” if the drug is rescheduled.

Congressmen in the House have also pleaded with Trump to reconsider, as Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) explained during “Washington Watch.” “Andy Harris [R-Md.], head of the Freedom Caucus, and I and 15 other members have signed a letter going to the president saying you at least owed us a conversation,” he remarked, “… because we are universally opposed to this. … [E]very single jail in America is full of people who started with marijuana, who were addicted.”