Biden Confirmed that Cannabis Will Be Removed from the Worst Drug Category

President Joe Biden announced a historic decision to reclassify cannabis under federal law. This “monumental” action is the result of an extensive administrative review that Biden ordered. This decision could have far-reaching consequences for U.S. drug policy and for the millions of Americans who have been affected by current laws.

Details of the Biden announcement

Biden announced that his administration will move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The Department of Justice will soon publish the proposed change in the Federal Register, followed by a 60-day public comment period.

Schedule I covers substances considered to have a high potential for abuse without recognized medical value. This category includes drugs such as heroin, LSD , ecstasy (MDMA), mescaline, methaqualone and, currently, cannabis.

Schedule III, on the other hand, covers substances that have a moderate to low potential for abuse and acceptable medical uses. This group includes anabolic steroids, ketamine , some barbiturates, and drugs containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dose (e.g., Tylenol with codeine).

“This is monumental,” Biden said in his video. “Today, my administration took an important step to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. This is an important step towards reversing long-standing inequalities.”

Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke out, emphasizing that cannabis is currently classified at the same level as heroin and more dangerous than fentanyl. “We’re finally changing it,” Harris said.

The rescheduling process

The process of reclassifying substances at the federal level involves several steps. Once the Department of Justice publishes the proposed rule, there will be a public comment period that will last 60 days. This is a key time for citizens and organizations to express their views on the proposed change.

Moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III is of paramount importance. First, there is recognition of the medical value of cannabis and its relatively low risk of abuse. This opens the door to broader scientific and medical research, which could lead to new treatments and drugs.

Second, this change has significant implications for people convicted of cannabis possession. “No one should be in prison just for using or possessing cannabis,” Biden emphasized, recalling his earlier comments. This is a step towards righting the wrongs caused by the current drug law.

Rescheduling cannabis also has a broad social and political context. Blacks and Latinos were disproportionately arrested and convicted for cannabis-related offenses, even though they use it at similar rates as whites. The Biden administration emphasized that the decision is a step towards social and racial equality.

Reactions and controversies

Biden’s announcement was met with mixed reactions. Supporters of the change welcomed the decision, emphasizing its importance for medical research and social justice. However, some activists noted that the rescheduling does not equate to full legalization of cannabis at the federal level. Opponents of the reform announced possible legal actions to block the change.

The next step may be the actions of Congress, which has the opportunity to introduce further reforms. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other politicians have reintroduced the federal cannabis legalization bill, though its future in a divided Congress is uncertain.

Joe Biden’s announcement to reclassify cannabis is a historic step toward drug policy reform in the US. This change may bring scientific, medical and social benefits, as well as contribute to redressing the wrongs caused by the current law. The public eagerly awaits further action by the administration and Congress on this issue.

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(Featured image by sergeitokmakov via Pixabay)

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