A group of Georgia lawmakers introduced a resolution this week urging the federal government to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law.
House Resolution 1524 was introduced March 3 by Representative Eric Bell (D), Representative Derrick Jackson (D), Representative El-Mahdi Holly (D), Representative Spencer Frye (D), and Representative Samuel Park (D). The measure says Georgia lawmakers should urge the federal government to complete the process of rescheduling marijuana and also take steps to increase marijuana and cannabidiol research.
The resolution points to a growing body of evidence supporting marijuana’s medical use, including for pain, nausea and vomiting, and anorexia tied to certain medical conditions. It notes that chronic pain impacts a significant portion of adults and seniors in the U.S., and says many medical marijuana patients use it as a treatment for pain.
The proposal also highlights that marijuana remains listed as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, a category reserved for substances with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. By contrast, Schedule III substances are recognized as having accepted medical use and a lower abuse potential than drugs in Schedules I and II.
HR 1524 references the recommendation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to move marijuana to Schedule III, as well as a presidential executive order issued in December directing the attorney general to move forward with the rulemaking process.
The resolution received its first reading on March 4 and its second reading on March 6. It is now pending in the House Special Rules Committee.
