Report: DEA set to reclassify cannabis as support for legalization grows

Apr 30

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Emma Stoltzfus (Video Editor)

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The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is on the brink of a historic move that could reshape American drug policy. On Tuesday, April 30, The Associated Press reported that the agency is preparing to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug, recognizing its medical uses and low potential for abuse.

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Five sources familiar with the matter, speaking anonymously, confirmed the DEA’s proposal to the AP. If approved by the White House Office of Management and Budget, this change would mark the most significant shift in the agency’s drug policy in over 50 years.

Under the proposed plan, cannabis would be moved from Schedule I to a Schedule III drug, alongside substances like ketamine and some anabolic steroids. However, the reclassification would not legalize cannabis outright.

Despite the reclassification, cannabis would remain a controlled substance under federal law. This means individuals and business operating in the cannabis industry must still comply with federal regulations.

The reclassification proposal comes after a r ecommendation by the federal Health and Human Services Department. If approved by the White House Office of Management and Budget, the process would then move to a public comment period.

Following the public comment period, the DEA will review the feedback and, if necessary, make adjustments to the proposal. Eventually, the agency will publish the final rule.

The move comes after President Joe Biden’s call for a review of federal cannabis laws in October 2022. He also pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of simple possession.

In an election year, the announcement could help Biden boost support among young voters, who overwhelmingly support cannabis legalization. In addition, recent polls show growing support for legalization with 70% of adults in favor, according to Gallup.

However, not everyone is on board with the DEA’s decision. Former DEA Deputy Administrator Jack Riley expressed concerns about the potential risks, citing cannabis as a possible gateway drug.

Tags: cannabis, Department of Health and Human Services, Drug Enforcement Administration, Joe Biden, White House

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE D-E-A IS ON THE BRINK OF A HISTORIC MOVE THAT COULD RESHAPE AMERICAN DRUG POLICY.

THE AGENCY IS POISED TO CLASSIFY MARIJUANA AS A LESS DANGEROUS DRUG, RECOGNIZING ITS MEDICAL USES AND LOWER POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE.

FIVE SOURCES FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER, CONFIRMED THE D-E-A’S PROPOSAL TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

UNDER THE PROPOSED PLAN, MARIJUANA WOULD BE MOVED FROM SCHEDULE ONE TO SCHEDULE THREE, ALONGSIDE SUBSTANCES LIKE KETAMINE AND SOME ANABOLIC STEROIDS.

BUT IT WOULD NOT LEGALIZE THE DRUG OUTRIGHT. DESPITE THE RECLASSIFICATION, MARIJUANA WOULD REMAIN A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE UNDER FEDERAL LAW. THIS MEANS INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESS OPERATING IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY MUST STILL COMPLY WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

IF APPROVED BY THE WHITE HOUSE, IT WOULD MARK THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN THE AGENCY’S POLICY IN MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

AFTER THAT, IT WILL FACE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

FOLLOWING THE COMMENT PERIOD, THE D-E-A WILL REVIEW THE FEEDBACK AND, IF NECESSARY, MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PROPOSAL. EVENTUALLY, THE AGENCY WILL PUBLISH THE FINAL RULE.

THE MOVE COMES AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN’S CALL FOR A REVIEW OF FEDERAL MARIJUANA LAWS IN OCTOBER 2022. HE ALSO PARDONED THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS CONVICTED OF SIMPLE POSSESSION.

IN AN ELECTION YEAR, THE ANNOUNCEMENT COULD HELP BIDEN BOOST SUPPORT AMONG YOUNG VOTERS WHO OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION.

AND RECENT POLLS SHOW GROWING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR LEGALIZATION WITH 70 PERCENT OF ADULTS IN FAVOR, ACCORDING TO GALLUP.

NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD WITH THE D-E-A’S DECISION. FORMER D-E-A DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR JACK RILEY, EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL RISKS, CITING MARIJUANA IS A POSSIBLE GATEWAY DRUG.