Reports indicate that the Biden administration is planning to relax nationwide marijuana regulations following a significant reclassification effort by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA is reportedly on the brink of reclassifying marijuana as a substance with lower risks, marking a notable departure from longstanding American drug laws and potentially impacting the nation in profound ways, according to the Associated Press.
Sources revealed to the news agency on Tuesday, April 30, that the DEA’s proposed reclassification, recognizing the medical benefits of cannabis and its reduced risk of abuse compared to other substances, awaits consideration by the White House Office of Management and Budget. However, it’s emphasized that the proposal does not seek to legalize marijuana for recreational use outright.
While the plan remains under review, it’s crucial to note that rescheduling marijuana differs from full legalization (descheduling). Rescheduling would not automatically permit marijuana possession everywhere, as it could still lead to legal repercussions in areas where it remains prohibited.
Per the report, final approval from the Office of Management and Budget may take several months. Once approved, the DEA will seek public feedback on the proposal to reclassify marijuana from its current Schedule I classification, alongside heroin and LSD, to Schedule III, alongside ketamine and certain anabolic steroids, aligning with recommendations from health organizations.
In essence, the reclassification would enable comprehensive research into marijuana’s potential medical benefits and potentially pave the way for pharmaceutical sales in states where it’s legal. In October 2022, President Biden directed the Department of Health and Human Services to review marijuana’s classification, emphasizing that individuals should not face incarceration for marijuana use or possession.
Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, hailed this move as progress toward ending the “failed war on drugs.” He remarked, “Marijuana was scheduled more than 50 years ago based on stigma, not science. The American people have made clear in state after state that cannabis legalization is inevitable. The Biden-Harris Administration is listening.”
