Marijuana recommendation by US health agency hailed as first step to easing weed restrictions

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has submitted a recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) concerning marijuana policy, a move that Senate leaders are commending as an initial stride towards alleviating federal constraints on the substance.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra conveyed on the X platform, previously recognized as Twitter, that the agency has responded to President Joe Biden’s request to “offer a scheduling suggestion for marijuana to the DEA.” He further stated, “We’ve diligently pursued a scientific assessment that has been promptly conducted and shared.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, representing New York, voiced his support through a formal statement, announcing that HHS has proposed reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance.

Schumer expressed, “HHS has acted appropriately. The DEA must now proceed with this pivotal measure to significantly mitigate the adverse repercussions stemming from stringent marijuana regulations.”

Revising the categorization of the drug would potentially reduce or eliminate legal sanctions related to possession. Currently designated as a Schedule I drug, marijuana shares this classification with substances like heroin and LSD.

As delineated by the DEA, Schedule I drugs are those that possess “no recognized medical purpose in the United States, a lack of acknowledged safety when supervised medically, and a high potential for misuse.”

In contrast, Schedule III drugs are characterized by having a “potential for misuse lower than substances in Schedules I or II, with abuse possibly leading to moderate or minor physical dependency, or substantial psychological dependency.” This category presently encompasses compounds such as ketamine and specific anabolic steroids.

The request for a review was initiated by President Biden in October 2022, concurrently with his pardon of numerous individuals convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana in accordance with federal law.

Ron Wyden, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee representing Oregon, released a statement urging for the complete descheduling of marijuana. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the significance of HHS’s suggestion to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III drug. He emphasized, “Should HHS’s counsel be ultimately enacted, it will stand as a momentous stride for a nation whose stance on cannabis has been disconnected from reality.”

Initial coverage of the HHS recommendation emerged from Bloomberg News.

Reacting to the Bloomberg report, the non-profit U.S. Cannabis Council conveyed their endorsement by stating, “We wholeheartedly embrace today’s development. … Reclassification will yield an array of wide-reaching advantages, including conveying to the criminal justice system that cannabis merits diminished priority, while concurrently offering a pivotal economic lifeline to the cannabis sector.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Marijuana Rescheduling

More about Marijuana Rescheduling

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• DEA Drug Scheduling
• Schedule I Drugs
• Schedule III Drugs
• President Joe Biden’s Request for Marijuana Review
• Chuck Schumer’s Statement on HHS Recommendation
• U.S. Cannabis Council