The Associated Press has learned that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration plans to reschedule marijuana as a less harmful substance. This is a historic change to years of American drug policy that may have far-reaching repercussions across the nation. Drugs classified as Schedule III are nonetheless governed by laws and regulations, and anyone who deal in them without authorization risk federal criminal punishment.
Some opponents contend that the DEA shouldn’t veer from its current policy with marijuana, claiming that rescheduling is needless and may have negative side effects.
As of the time of writing this article, 24 states have legalized marijuana for recreational use and 38 had already approved it for medical use, indicating that federal drug policy has lagged behind several states in recent years.
This has led to the marijuana industry’s rapid expansion, which is now estimated to be worth about $30 billion. Industry groups claim that a reduction in federal rules might alleviate the tax burden that enterprises may face, which can amount to as much as 70%.
Additionally, as it is extremely difficult to perform approved clinical trials on Schedule I substances, it might facilitate research on marijuana. This will allow more facilities the opportunity to perform testing.
Rearranging would probably have a less noticeable immediate impact on the country’s criminal justice system because federal charges for simple possession have been less common in recent years. However, relaxing regulations may have a number of unforeseen repercussions outside of the drug battle.
Opponents point out that marijuana would still be subject to DEA regulation because it is a Schedule III substance. The approximately 15,000 cannabis shops in the United States would then have to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) just like traditional pharmacies and adhere to stringent reporting requirements—a task that they would rather avoid and one that the DEA is ill-prepared to undertake.
In addition, the United States is bound by several international treaties, one of which is the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which makes cannabis illegal.
How soon might the regulation be completed and cannabis formally classified as a Schedule III drug?
There is a 30- to 90-day public comment period following the DEA’s publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register. During this time, there is also a chance for someone to object to the rule and start an administrative law hearing.
The DEA must next examine those remarks and objections. The length of the DEA review procedure and the hearing schedule are not disclosed. There is typically a 30-day window between the publication of the final rule and its effective date.
Fingers crossed this will all flow without any issues. Hopefully the government starts to see the benefits to the use of cannabis. It has been way to long for this process to even come to this. We are dedicated to bringing you the most up to date information as soon as it is released.
Stay tuned to the up and coming news right here at thecannabisinsider.com