Yesterday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published its proposed rules for rescheduling marijuana. These rules will be officially published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, initiating the legally required 60-day public comment period.
The notice published yesterday by the DEA states that the agency plans to reclassify marijuana from its current status as a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. The notice’s publication coincided with a social media video announcement by President Biden and Vice President Harris.
The DEA now states that the notice will be officially published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, May 21. This will mark the start of the 60-day public comment period, during which anyone can provide remarks and feedback on the proposed change. The proposed change is currently listed on the Federal Register’s website with the disclaimer, “This document is unpublished. It is scheduled to be published on 05/21/2024.”
Following the public comment period, the DEA will review all submissions to gauge public sentiment and gather additional evidence, culminating in a final hearing and the issuance of a final ruling. Based on the current timeline, marijuana is expected to be officially moved to Schedule III sometime in August.
For a look at the 10 biggest implications of marijuana be moved to Schedule III, click here.
