NEW DELHI: Biden administration on Thursday officially proposed to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a significant change that would align federal policy more closely with public opinion. President Biden emphasized in a video statement, “No one should be in jail merely for using or possessing marijuana. Period,” and expressed his commitment to correcting the wrongs caused by a failed approach to marijuana.
Currently, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), alongside heroin, ecstasy, and LSD, indicating no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.The proposal would downgrade it to a Schedule III drug, similar to ketamine and codeine-containing painkillers, which are considered to have a moderate to low likelihood of dependence.
The issue of marijuana reclassification is seen as a potential vote-winner for Biden in the upcoming November election, particularly among younger voters. A Pew Research Center survey found that 88 percent of Americans believe marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use, with only 11 percent opposing legalization entirely. The decision to outlaw cannabis at the federal level in 1937 is criticized for being based largely on racist ideas, as the drug was associated with jazz music, the Black community, and Mexican immigrants, reported AFP.
The “War on Drugs” in the 1970s also disproportionately affected minorities, particularly Black Americans, who are overrepresented in marijuana-related arrests.
The reclassification of marijuana would have significant implications for businesses in the industry, allowing them to access banking services, receive federal funding for medical marijuana research, and engage in interstate commerce. It would also enable companies to deduct their operating expenses from their taxes, which is currently prohibited. The decision has been praised by industry leaders and civil rights organizations, with the NAACP stating, “Far too many Black Americans have fallen victim to a system designed for their demise.”
Currently, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), alongside heroin, ecstasy, and LSD, indicating no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.The proposal would downgrade it to a Schedule III drug, similar to ketamine and codeine-containing painkillers, which are considered to have a moderate to low likelihood of dependence.
The issue of marijuana reclassification is seen as a potential vote-winner for Biden in the upcoming November election, particularly among younger voters. A Pew Research Center survey found that 88 percent of Americans believe marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use, with only 11 percent opposing legalization entirely. The decision to outlaw cannabis at the federal level in 1937 is criticized for being based largely on racist ideas, as the drug was associated with jazz music, the Black community, and Mexican immigrants, reported AFP.
The “War on Drugs” in the 1970s also disproportionately affected minorities, particularly Black Americans, who are overrepresented in marijuana-related arrests.
The reclassification of marijuana would have significant implications for businesses in the industry, allowing them to access banking services, receive federal funding for medical marijuana research, and engage in interstate commerce. It would also enable companies to deduct their operating expenses from their taxes, which is currently prohibited. The decision has been praised by industry leaders and civil rights organizations, with the NAACP stating, “Far too many Black Americans have fallen victim to a system designed for their demise.”