A coalition of 12 U.S. attorneys general, led by Colorado’s Phil Weiser, is urging the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to reclassify cannabis. In a letter to the DEA, the attorneys general expressed their support for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. This reclassification, they argue, would contribute to public safety and benefit legal cannabis businesses.
The letter, which was sent just hours before the release of a report by the Department of Health and Human Services outlining the reasons for the recommendation, highlights the potential medical uses of cannabis and its lower likelihood to cause harm compared to other drugs like heroin. Currently, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance, signifying that it has no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
The attorneys general from Colorado, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Rhode Island collectively emphasized the importance of regulated cannabis markets in promoting consumer protection and public safety. They also raised concerns about the illicit market and the proliferation of dangerous opioids, underlining the need for well-regulated cannabis markets to address these issues.
The DEA had announced in August that it would review its classification of marijuana following a request from the Department of Health and Human Services. The movement to reclassify cannabis is a significant development in light of Colorado legalizing recreational marijuana a decade ago, with 23 other states subsequently following suit. Additionally, cannabis is available for medicinal use in 38 states.
The attorneys general further pointed out that market regulations in legal states, such as seed-to-sale tracking systems and policies to limit underage sales, have made cannabis safer. They also noted that additional tax restrictions on businesses dealing with Schedule I and Schedule II substances have posed challenges for legal cannabis operators, hindering their ability to invest in public health and safety measures.
Colorado’s Attorney General, Phil Weiser, emphasized the state’s commitment to protecting the integrity of its regulated cannabis market while addressing health and safety risks associated with cannabis use. The call for the reclassification of cannabis is seen as a move to better enable the market to function and protect consumers.
This latest push for the reclassification of cannabis by a group of state attorneys general underscores the ongoing evolution of marijuana laws and regulations in the United States, highlighting the complexities and competing interests involved in addressing cannabis policy.
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