On Thursday, May 16, the U.S. Department of Justice announced plans to potentially lower marijuana’s classification from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug, which will rank cannabis as less dangerous.
However, the reclassification involves starting a process “where the Drug Enforcement Administration will gather and consider information and views submitted by the public, in order to make a determination about the appropriate schedule. During that process, and until a final rule is published, marijuana remains a schedule I controlled substance.”
Drugs are categorized from Schedule I to Schedule V under the Controlled Substances Act
In the U.S., drugs are categorized from Schedule I to Schedule V under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), depending on their abuse potential and medical utility. Schedule I drugs are currently viewed as the most hazardous, with no accepted medical use.
The move comes as the Attorney General submitted a notice to the Federal Register of proposed rulemaking.
It is pertinent to note that ever since the CSA was enacted by Congress in 1970, Cannabis remained classified as a Schedule I drug. However, on October 6, 2022, President Joe Biden directed the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a scientific review of marijuana’s federal scheduling.
After receiving recommendations and considering medical and scientific evidence in August 2023, the Attorney General, with advice from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), has now exercised his authority to commence the reclassification of marijuana to Schedule III.
Presently, cannabis is legally used for medical purposes in 38 states and for recreational purposes in 24 states. This ongoing shift in public policy and attitude highlights the increasing acknowledgment of marijuana’s potential medical benefits and acceptance for recreational use. This dynamic landscape continues to evolve as more states explore legalization and as the federal government reassesses its stance on cannabis laws.
