United States: On Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department took a step to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous narcotic, paving the way for a big change in the country’s medicine laws.
Regulatory Recognition of Cannabis
Cannabis has lower eventuality for abuse than other dangerous anaesthetics, according to controllers, who conceded the medical uses of cannabis in a draft rule submitted to the civil register. The offer would not, still, fully legalize marijuana for recreational use.
Biden Administration’s Stance
In a video that was shared on social media on Thursday, President Joe Biden declared, “This is monumental.” “A misguided attitude to marijuana has turned far too many lives upside down, and I’m dedicated to putting those wrongs right. You can trust me on that.
Public Support and Legal Landscape
The plan will be open for public comment by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), however this could be a drawn-out procedure. Should the rule be accepted, marijuana would no longer be included with heroin and LSD as Schedule I drugs. Rather, marijuana would be added on Schedule III along with ketamine and several anabolic steroids.
The most recent action is in response to a suggestion put forth by the US Department of Health and Human Services one time ago.
In October 2022, President Joe Biden first requested a review of civil marijuana laws and granted absolutions to thousands of Americans condemned of civil charges related to simple possession of marijuana. He has also called on governors and original leaders to take analogous way to abolish marijuana persuasions.
Support from the general public to relax marijuana laws is at an all-time high: 70% of adults support legalization, according to a Gallup poll conducted last fall—the largest percentage the polling company has ever discovered.
Importantly, according to the Associated Press, those who traffic in Schedule III medications without authorization risk federal prosecution because they are still regulated substances that must adhere to laws and regulations.
DEA Procedure and Potential Implications
Former DEA deputy administrator Jack Riley expressed his reservations about the proposed shift to the AP, saying he believes marijuana may still be used as a “gateway drug.”
Riley went on, “But in terms of us getting clear to use our resources to combat other major drugs, that’s a positive.” Riley mentioned that over 100,000 people die in the US each year from fentanyl alone. In recent years, federal drug policy has fallen behind many states; currently, 24 states have legalized marijuana for recreational use and 38 have allowed it for medical u