The Biden administration has made a ground-breaking move to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug, stepping away from its long-held position alongside substances like heroin and LSD in the most restrictive Schedule I category. This monumental shift in drug policy could greatly ease federal restrictions on cannabis and potentially open the door for significant medical research and industry changes.
With a directive from President Joe Biden, the Department of Health and Human Services has concluded that there is credible evidence that cannabis provides medical benefits, and thus should not be classified as a Schedule I substance. It’s anticipated that the Drug Enforcement Administration will soon approve this recommendation, marking a historic shift from the existing classification which has been in place for over half a century.
The reclassification of marijuana to Schedule III, which includes drugs such as Tylenol with codeine and steroids, would acknowledge the potential medical benefits of cannabis and facilitate earnest scientific study. It would also have immediate and profound effects on the $34 billion cannabis industry, potentially eliminating hefty tax burdens on businesses and spurring the growth of legal markets while combating the thriving black market.
Despite this significant stride, the reclassification does not outright legalize marijuana for recreational use. Nonetheless, it represents a remarkable reversal from past federal policies, and reflects the changing attitudes towards cannabis, with nearly 6 in 10 Americans supporting legalization for both medical and recreational purposes.
This policy shift is the culmination of years of advocacy and evolving public sentiment. The move was largely driven by federal scientists’ findings and the president’s personal push for re-examination of cannabis classification. President Biden made note of the federal review process in his State of the Union address, emphasizing that “No one should be jailed for using or possessing marijuana.”
Rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III would also “open up the ability to actually test it and put it in a laboratory without all of the restrictive measures” associated with a Schedule I drug, as stated by Jim Cole, a member of the National Cannabis Roundtable and deputy attorney general in the Obama administration.
Despite the widespread support, some, like Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, criticize the decision, claiming it to be “the result of a politicized process,” and foreseeing negative impacts on American kids.
The move is not without its processes and possible challenges. Following the DEA’s announcement, there will be a public review period, and Congress could potentially overturn the rule under the Congressional Review Act, though such an outcome seems unlikely given the current composition of the Senate.
In parallel, Congress is considering its own cannabis-related bills, including the SAFER Banking Act, which would grant legal marijuana businesses access to traditional banking, and the HOPE Act, aiming at expunging criminal records for non-violent cannabis offenses.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the administration’s initiative as an acknowledgment that “restrictive and draconian cannabis laws need to change,” while Senator Cory Booker called on Congress to continue the push for legalization and address the remnants of the War on Drugs.
Relevant articles:
– Biden administration plans to reclassify marijuana, easing restrictions nationwide, nbcnews.com, 05/01/2024
– US drug control agency will move to reclassify marijuana in a historic shift, AP sources say, The Associated Press, 04/30/2024
– DOJ plans to reschedule marijuana as a lower-risk drug, CNN, 04/30/2024