The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is planning a significant shift in its classification of marijuana, aiming to reclassify it as a less dangerous drug. This change, if approved by the White House Office of Management and Budget, would mark a historic shift in American drug policy, potentially influencing policies across the country. The proposed reclassification recognizes the medical benefits of cannabis and acknowledges its lower potential for abuse compared to some of the nation’s most dangerous drugs. However, the proposal does not include full legalization of marijuana for recreational use.
This move by the DEA, confirmed by sources familiar with the matter, is a crucial step before the agency can implement its most significant policy change in over 50 years. Once the Office of Management and Budget approves, the DEA will open a public comment period on the plan to move marijuana from Schedule I, alongside heroin and LSD, to Schedule III, alongside substances like ketamine and some anabolic steroids. This recommendation aligns with a suggestion from the federal Health and Human Services Department.
After the public comment period and review by an administrative judge, the DEA would finalize the rule. Xochitl Hinojosa, director of public affairs at the Justice Department, stated, “Today, the Attorney General circulated a proposal to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III,” emphasizing that this would initiate a formal rulemaking process as mandated by Congress in the Controlled Substances Act. Attorney General Merrick Garland’s support underscores the importance of this move to the Biden administration, which has expressed concerns about the negative impact of marijuana criminalization on individuals’ opportunities for employment, housing, and education.
The announcement, coming during an election year, could potentially help President Biden gain support, especially among younger voters. However, some, like former DEA deputy administrator Jack Riley, remain cautious, citing concerns that marijuana could still serve as a “gateway drug.” Nonetheless, many see this shift as a positive step that could allow law enforcement to focus more resources on combating more dangerous substances, such as fentanyl, which is responsible for over 100,000 deaths annually in the U.S.