On Thursday, the United States Department of Justice formally moved to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous drugin a historic change in several generations of American anti-drug policy.
A proposed rule submitted to the federal register recognizes the medical uses of cannabis and admits that he has less potential for abuse than some of the most dangerous drugs in the country. The plan approved by Attorney General Merrick Garland does not directly legalize marijuana for recreational use.
Following the decision, President Joe Biden said that “too many lives have been cut short by our failed approach to marijuana. So today, the Department of Justice is taking the next step to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under federal law.”
“At the moment, marijuana is rated higher than fentanyl and methamphetamine – the two drugs driving America’s overdose epidemic. “That doesn’t make sense,” said the Democratic president.
Along these lines, he maintained that “at my request, and guided by science and evidence, HHS and the DOJ have studied the medical use of the drug and the potential for abuse and dependence and recommend its reclassification, concluding that the reclassification would eliminate barriers to critical research.
“No one should go to jail just for using or possessing marijuana. Today’s announcement builds on the work we have already done to forgive a record number of federal crimes for simple possession of marijuana. I am committed to correcting these historical errors. I give you my word,” he concluded.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will take public comments on the proposal to move marijuana away from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, along with heroin and LSD. Marijuana moves to Schedule III, along with ketamine and some anabolic steroids.
The change follows a recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services, which initiated a review of the drug’s status at the behest of President Joe Biden in 2022.
Biden has also moved to pardon thousands of people federally convicted of simple marijuana possession and has called on governors and local leaders to take similar steps to expunge convictions.
The ad could help Biden, a Democrat, boost his support, especially among younger voters.
Notification of the proposed rule submitted to the federal register begins a 60-day comment period, followed by possible review by an administrative law judge, a potentially lengthy process.
Biden and a growing number of lawmakers from both major political parties have been pushing for the DEA to make a decision, since marijuana is increasingly decriminalized and accepted, especially by younger people.
The US Cannabis Council, a trade group, applauded the proposed change, saying it would “signal a tectonic shift away from the failed policies of the past 50 years.”
Available data reviewed by HHS show that while marijuana “is associated with a high prevalence of abuse,” that potential is more in line with other Schedule III substances, according to the proposed rule.
The HHS recommendations are binding until the draft rule is submitted, and Garland agreed with them to begin the process.
However, the DEA has not yet commented on the classification of marijuana, and hopes to obtain more information during the rulemaking process, according to the document.
Schedule III drugs remain controlled substances and subject to rules and regulationsand people who traffic them without a permit could still face federal criminal prosecution.
Some critics argue that the DEA should not change course on marijuana, saying reclassification is not necessary and could lead to harmful side effects. Others argue that marijuana should be treated like alcohol.
In recent years, federal drug policy has lagged behind that of many states, 38 of which have already legalized marijuana for medical purposes and 24 have legalized its recreational use. This has contributed to the rapid growth of the marijuana industry, with an estimated value of almost $30 billion.
Relaxing federal regulations could reduce the tax burden, which can be 70% or more for marijuana companies, according to industry groups. It could also make marijuana research easier, since it is very difficult to conduct authorized clinical studies on Schedule I substances.
(With information from AP)
