Marijuana has a lower potential for abuse than other drugs that are subjected to the same restrictions, with scientific support for its use as a medical treatment, researchers from the US Food and Drug Administration say in documents supporting its reclassification as a Schedule III substance.

Marijuana is currently classified as Schedule I, reserved for the most dangerous controlled substances, including heroin and LSD. In 2022, President Joe Biden asked US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and the attorney general to begin the administrative process of reviewing how marijuana is scheduled under federal law. HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Rachel Levine wrote a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration in August in which she supported the reclassification to Schedule III, a list that includes “drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence” such as ketamine, testosterone and Tylenol with codeine.

Rescheduling marijuana could open up more avenues for research, allow cannabis businesses to bank more freely and openly, and have firms no longer subject to a 40-year-old tax code that disallows credits and deductions from income generated by sales of Schedule I and II substances.

  • _number8_@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    i have a feeling biden will finally get this done right before the election. hopefully this will mobilize the young enough to combat the hoards of jug hooters

        • OldWoodFrame@lemm.ee
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          11 months ago

          The blame will depend on whether Republicans have control of a house of Congress. If they refuse to put it through the Republican-controlled Senate then it tracks that a Democratic presidential candidate would promise it but be unable to deliver due to the opposing party.

          Blame him if he gets complete control and doesn’t do it, blame the other party if they stop him from doing it.

        • the post of tom joad@sh.itjust.works
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          11 months ago

          But when we complain that we still can’t buy pot in our state we’ll get 4 replies 10 paragraphs long with citations all smugly telling us that we don’t understand, he actually got “the most work done towards legalizing pot then any president since FDR”

    • ShoeboxKiller@lemm.ee
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      11 months ago

      What more does Biden need to do? They already directed HHS to consider reclassifying it from schedule I to III and HHS made their recommendation to the DEA who classifies the drugs. I thought it was up to the DEA now?

        • nelly_man@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          The executive branch is a bureaucracy that has to follow procedures. The president can direct the agency to start these processes, and that’s what he done. The HHS has done the necessary work to show that cannabis is deserving of a lower schedule according to the Controlled Substances Act. It is now up to the DEA to review that data and reschedule it accordingly. This is the process stipulated by the law, and the executive branch must adhere to it. If they don’t, it will be undone in the courts.

          The alternative route would be for Congress to pass a new law to specifically legalize cannabis, but they do not have the numbers, so the Biden administration has to follow the process outlined in the existing laws. He’s done what he is legally able to do, and it’s more than any of his predecessors have. It may be slow, but it’s pretty much a fast as the law allows.

          • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            The executive branch is a bureaucracy that has to follow procedures. The president can direct the agency to start these processes, and that’s what he done.

            That’s great. Until it’s actually happened, it’s not an accomplishment. I’m not sure how centrists keep failing to understand this. You don’t get credit for something that hasn’t happened. Cannabis is still illegal federally. If that changes due to Biden’s efforts, I’ll happily give him credit.

            But it hasn’t happened yet. This isn’t the Silmarillion. You don’t get credit for trying.

        • ShoeboxKiller@lemm.ee
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          11 months ago

          What more does Biden need to do?

          Are you unable to answer the question or do you not have an answer? Is that why you resorted to snark?

          • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            Not expect praise for something that hasn’t happened?

            Centrists demand credit for non-accomplishments because they prefer to accomplish nothing.

            • ShoeboxKiller@lemm.ee
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              11 months ago

              Not expect praise for something that hasn’t happened?

              Where did I demand Biden be praised?

              Centrists demand credit for non-accomplishments because they prefer to accomplish nothing.

              When did I demand Biden get credit?

              Often on social media the same people who decry one side behaving like authoritarian dictators act like it’s acceptable for their side to behave like gasp authoritarian dictators.

              Yes, some people like to give undue credit but you’re just the other side of that coin shitting on any action that is taken.

              Instead of engaging in the discussion you resort to snark, assumptions and insults. It’s clear you have nothing to contribute, engaging with you any further would be a waste of my time.

              Have a day!

              • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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                11 months ago

                Yes, some people like to give undue credit but you’re just the other side of that coin shitting on any action that is taken.

                I’ve said that I will be happy to give Biden credit for actual accomplishments. This is not an accomplishment. It could be groundwork for one, or it could be making a show of looking into it and then not following through.

                Democrats squandered what remaining benefit of the doubt they had years ago. Until it’s an accomplishment, it’s a bill of goods as far as I’m concerned.