In a groundbreaking move, the Drug Enforcement Administration is considering recommending the reclassification of marijuana to a less harmful category. This change would involve shifting marijuana from its current Schedule 1 classification, where it is listed alongside heroin and ecstasy, to a Schedule 3 drug, alongside substances like ketamine, steroids, and testosterone.
A reliable source has indicated that the Department of Justice plans to submit this recommendation to the White House's Office of Management and Budget on Tuesday. The Office of Management and Budget will then review the recommendation, marking a crucial step in a process that is expected to take several months.
The White House has opted not to comment on the matter, directing all inquiries to the Department of Justice, which has also refrained from making any statements.
Following the Office of Management and Budget's review, there will be a public comment period before the recommendation is returned to the Department of Justice for further processing. This process will include hearings and a review by an administrative judge.
It's important to note that while these developments are significant, the reclassification of marijuana would not lead to its outright legalization. However, such a change would have broad implications for how the federal government handles marijuana, particularly in areas such as medical research and taxation, given the increasing use of marijuana in American society.
A majority of states have already legalized marijuana to varying degrees, including for medical purposes. President Joe Biden has criticized the current classification of marijuana, stating that it is illogical to categorize marijuana at the same level as heroin and more serious than fentanyl. In October 2022, he instructed the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. attorney general to review this classification.
Since then, Biden has granted pardons to thousands of individuals convicted of federal offenses related to simple marijuana possession. If marijuana is reclassified as a Schedule 3 drug, it could impact the status of these charges at the state level.