The United States Health and Human Services Department (HHS) has released a 252 page document explaining their rationale for wanting marijuana moved from Schedule I to Schedule III.
HHS today released the full, unredacted 252 page document explaining why it sent a letter to the DEA in August requesting marijuana be rescheduled. In the letter HHS says that marijuana “has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States”, while also noting that its “potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in Schedules I and II.”
In December HHS released the document after a pair of attorneys requested them through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). However, the 252 pages were heavily redacted. The documents released today were entirely unredacted.
The document notes that over 30,000 healthcare providers have prescribed medical marijuana to millions of patients in 43 states and U.S. jurisdictions.
Currently marijuana is a Schedule I drug, meaning it has no medical value and is highly dangerous and addictive. Moving it to Schedule III would allow it to be prescribed for medical use across the United States.
In September congressional researchers released a report stating that the DEA is “likely” to reschedule marijuana, with many believing it will be done prior to the 2024 presidential election.
Earlier today Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser led a group of 12 state attorneys general on a letter encouraging the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III under the federal Controlled Substances Act in the interest of public health and safety.
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