WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration will move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, the Associated Press reported. This is a historic shift in American drug policy for generations and could have far-reaching ramifications across the country.
The DEA’s proposal, which still needs to be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, would recognize marijuana’s medical uses and recognize that it has a lower potential for abuse than some of the nation’s most dangerous drugs. However, it does not fully legalize marijuana for recreational purposes.
The agency’s move, confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday by five people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive regulatory review, marks the agency’s biggest policy change in more than 50 years. It says it has cleared the last major regulatory hurdle before it takes effect. .
If approved by OMB, the DEA will seek public comment on its plan to remove marijuana from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, along with heroin and LSD.
Following recommendations from the federal Department of Health and Human Services, it would move cannabis to Schedule III status, along with ketamine and some anabolic steroids.
After a public comment period, the agency plans to issue a final rule.
This comes after President Joe Biden called for an overhaul of federal marijuana laws in October 2022 and moved to pardon thousands of Americans convicted of simple possession by the federal government. Thing.
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He also called on state governors and local leaders to take similar steps to expunge marijuana convictions.
“Criminal records for marijuana use and possession impose unnecessary barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities,” Biden said in December. “Too many lives have been turned upside down because our approach to marijuana has failed. It’s time we right these wrongs.”
The election-year announcement could help Democrat Biden boost his sluggish support, especially among younger voters.
Schedule III drugs remain controlled substances and are subject to rules and regulations, and those who traffic them without a permit can still be subject to federal criminal prosecution.
Some critics argue that the DEA should not change its marijuana policy, saying the schedule change is unnecessary and could lead to harmful side effects.
At the other end of the spectrum, some argue that marijuana should be removed from the list of controlled substances altogether and instead be regulated like alcohol.
Federal drug policy has lagged behind many states in recent years, with 38 states already legalizing medical marijuana and 24 states legalizing recreational use.
This has fueled the rapid growth of the marijuana industry, which is estimated to be worth nearly $30 billion. Easing federal regulations could reduce the tax burden on companies, which could be more than 70%, according to industry groups.
It could also make research on marijuana easier, as it is very difficult to conduct approved clinical studies on Schedule I substances.
Federal prosecutions for simple possession have been fairly rare in recent years, so the immediate impact of the schedule changes on the nation’s criminal justice system will likely be more modest.
Mr. Biden has already pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of marijuana possession under federal law.
