In two separate letters sent this week a coalition of military veterans and an organization representing current and former law enforcement officials urged the Biden Administration to reschedule marijuana.
In the first letter a coalition of military groups, including the American Legion, the Blinded Veterans Association, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, AMVETS, American GI Forum, and the Minority Veterans of America, called on Biden to promptly reschedule marijuana to Schedule III, allowing it to be prescribed nationwide for medical use.
“The men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces often face difficult physical and mental challenges upon returning home. As such, we hope that in treating the wounds of war — both visible and invisible — that our servicemembers and veterans would have access to the widest array of possible treatments”, states the letter.
“We understand that the administrative scheduling process involves several steps, but the sooner the DEA moves forward with a reclassification of cannabis, the sooner it could potentially be integrated into the [Veterans Health Administration] — our nation’s largest healthcare system”.
A separate letter with the same request was sent by Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration group.
“We are current and former police chiefs, sheriffs, federal and state prosecutors, and correctional officials from across the country dedicated to protecting public safety and reducing unnecessary arrests, prosecutions, and incarceration”, states the letter. “We urge your Administration to reclassify marijuana from a schedule I to a schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)”.
The letter was first reported by The Hill.
In August, in a letter addressed to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asked for marijuana to be reclassified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act following a nearly year-long review prompted by an executive order issued by President Biden in late, 2022.
On December 19 the DEA sent a letter to congressional lawmakers confirming that their review of marijuana as a Schedule I drug is currently underway, while noting that the agency has “the final authority” when it comes to any rescheduling effort.
