Washington: US President Joe Biden’s administration is set to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, an official said Tuesday — a historic shift that would bring federal policy more in line with public opinion.
It comes after Biden became the first president to initiate a federal review into the matter, in 2022.
WASHINGTON: The Biden administration is reportedly planning to ease nationwide marijuana restrictions following a significant reclassification effort. The U.S. Department of Drug Enforcement (DEA) is on the verge of reclassifying marijuana as a lower-risk substance, in a dramatic reversal of long-standing American drug laws that could have far-reaching effects across the country as reported by Associated Press.
The issue is seen as a potential vote winner for Biden as he faces Republican Donald Trump in a tough election rematch this November, especially among younger people whom the Democratic incumbent is struggling to court.
While the plan is still under consideration, it is important to understand that changing the marijuana classification (rescheduling) is different from making it completely legal (descheduling). Rescheduling wouldn’t automatically make it okay to have marijuana everywhere. You could still get in trouble for possessing it in places where it’s illegal.
“This is the next step in the formal rescheduling process,” a source familiar with the issue told AFP. The process would still require a long period for public comments and finalization.
Simply put, the reclassification would allow researchers to conduct a large-scale study of the substance to determine specific medical benefits and potentially open the door for pharmaceutical companies in terms of sale in the states where they are legal. In October 2022, President Joe Biden ordered the Department of Health and human services to review marijuana’s classification. At the time the president said, “No one should be jailed for using or possessing marijuana.”