America is putting marijuana on the schedule
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The US government is considering its biggest change to federal drug policy in decades.
This week, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule III drug, instead of its current Schedule I status alongside other drugs considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use (like meth, heroin, and LSD).
💥 The potential impact: While reclassifying marijuana to Schedule III wouldn’t affect the drug’s illegal status on a federal level, doing so would open up a wide range of new opportunities for businesses across America.
A few notable examples:
- Marijuana companies could write off normal business expenses, saving the industry hundreds of millions of dollars per year. An IRS code intended to prevent drug dealers from claiming tax deductions doesn’t apply to Schedule III drugs.
- The marijuana industry could finally have access to banking services and institutional investment, according to legal experts. Because of the drug’s Schedule I status, cannabis companies are currently banned from both.
- US scientists could study the effects of marijuana on human patients, likely leading to the development of cannabis-based prescription drugs. Current research on marijuana is incomplete, but indicates some health benefits alongside risks like increased anxiety and substance dependence.
👀 Looking ahead… All eyes are now on the DEA, which has the ultimate authority on scheduling substances. The agency officially began a public review of marijuana after receiving the HHS’ recommendation, a process that often takes several months.
📊 Flash poll: Do you agree with HHS’s recommendation that marijuana be reclassified from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III?
No, marijuana should remain Schedule I
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that instead of rescheduling marijuana, the best outcome for the American public is if the US government fully legalizes and regulates the drug across all 50 states.
- Others contend that the federal government’s current stance on marijuana is the least responsible one possible, as it’s gone from a total ban on recreational use to enabling the drug to become widely available across most states with zero national safety standards (which should be promptly implemented).
- “Time for change: Federal ban on marijuana use causes more harm than good” –USA TODAY Editorial Board
- “Marijuana keeps growing more dangerous. The FDA needs to step in.” –Robert Gebelhoff, WaPo
- “It’s Not Just About Pot. Our Entire Drug Policy Needs an Overhaul.” –Maia Szalavitz, NY Times
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the federal government choosing not to enforce its laws criminalizing marijuana in states where it’s legal has led to a surge in violent black market trade in those states, which negatively affects citizens.
- Others contend that Democrats appear to have contrarian views when it comes to marijuana, since many politicians and voters support smoking the drug while simultaneously holding anti-tobacco-smoking views, even though both are bad for people.
- “When the weed-wagon comes to your state, ask them what they did to California” –Washington Examiner Editorial Board
- “The Progressive Paradox on Marijuana” –WSJ Editorial Board
- “New York Smells Like a Declining City” –Jason De Sena Trennert, WSJ
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