The DEA is Moving Marijuana to Schedule III: Here’s What That Means

The Biden Administration announced today that the DEA will move marijuana to Schedule III. Here’s a breakdown of what that means.

In a landmark decision that marks a significant shift in federal marijuana policy, the Biden Administration announced today that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance. This move will have widespread implications for both medical research and the legal landscape surrounding cannabis use.

Under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), enacted in 1970, substances are classified into schedules based on their accepted medical use, potential for abuse, and likelihood of causing dependency. Schedule I drugs, which include LSD and heroin, are considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Marijuana has been categorized under this schedule since the CSA’s enactment, a classification that has long been a point of contention among advocates, researchers, and lawmakers.
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In Historic Decision Biden Administration Will Reschedule Marijuana to Schedule III

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced that it will reschedule marijuana.

The DEA’s decision to move marijuana to Schedule III will be followed by a required 30-day public comment period, and a hearing, before it can take effect.

Under the Federal Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, making it illegal for all purposes. The DEA’s decision to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug will effectively legalize it nationwide for prescription use, while providing state-legal medical marijuana patients and businesses with numerous federal protections that are currently unavailable to them. Other Schedule III substances include codeine, ketamine and testosterone.
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In Study of Topical Cannabis to Treat Inflammatory Diseases “All Patients Showed Pain Relief After Two Months of Follow-Up”

In a recent study researchers observed notable pain relief in patients using topical cannabis for various inflammatory diseases.

The study was published in the journal Revista Alergia México and is available online through the United States National Library of Medicine.

The research aimed to explore the effectiveness of cannabis as a topical analgesic for patients diagnosed with conditions like arthrosis, unspecified, non-toxic multinodular goiter, epilepsy, chronic venous insufficiency, unspecified lumbago, secondary gonarthrosis, rotator cuff syndrome, and carpal tunnel syndrome. A total of 23 patients from Salud Social I.P.S were selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling for this analytical, retrospective study.
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US Senate Staffers Confirm Rumor That DEA May Reschedule Marijuana This Week

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) may reschedule marijuana as soon as this week, according to rumors confirmed by the offices of at least two members of the United States Senate.

In an episode of their podcast released today, the anti-marijuana organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) says an announcement on the DEA’s marijuana scheduling decision “could be coming this week”, with co-founder Kevin Sabet (a former White House advisor on drug policy) saying “We’re hearing a lot of chatter, even as we’re having this podcast I’m hearing from some sources that pro-marijuana Democratic senators are saying it’s very soon, as in today or tomorrow”.

Now, we’ve confirmed with the offices of two US senators that these rumors have in fact been making their way around the capitol, with one staffer saying “everything we’ve heard leads us to believe an announcement will happen real soon, as in tomorrow or sometime this week.”
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Nation’s Largest Anti-Marijuana Group Says DEA Rescheduling Decision Could Come This Week

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) says an announcement on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) marijuana scheduling decision “could be coming this week.”

“We’ve heard rumors that potentially that announcement could be coming this week – whatever the decision may be”, said a representative for the organization during today’s episode of their podcast The Drug Report.

SAM, founded in 2013, is the nation’s largest anti-marijuana group, advocating against the legalization of marijuana and promoting policies aimed at decreasing marijuana use. SAM was founded by Kevin Sabet, a former White House advisor on drug policy, and Patrick J. Kennedy, a former U.S. Congressman from Rhode Island.
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Colorado Senate Votes 33 to 1 to Streamline Marijuana Licensing and Regulations

Colorado’s full Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill “to address efficiency in the regulation of existing marijuana licensees.”

Filed by Senator Julie Gonzales, Senate Bill 76 was passed by the Senate today 33 to 1, sending it to the House of Representatives. Passage through the House will send the bill to Governor Jared Polis, who says he will sign it into law if given the chance. The only “No” vote was Senator Byron Pelton.

The bill makes a series of changes to the regulation of marijuana businesses, including:
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High Times Announces Return of Oklahoma Cannabis Cup

High Times has officially announced the High Times 2024 Oklahoma Cannabis Cup.

“Oklahomans, get ready to prepare your body, mind, and soul to take part in the High Times Cannabis Cup!”, High Times says in their announcement. “We’re thrilled to highlight some of Oklahoma’s best products that have proven to be reliable and potent medicine for patients across the state.”

High Times says “We’re not hiring cannasseurs to do the job though—that responsibility is reserved for judges everywhere to determine.”
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The 5 States With the Harshest Marijuana Laws

With so many states legalizing marijuana, it can cause whiplash when examining some of the harshest state-level marijuana laws.

(Photo credit: Shutterstock).

There are 24 states with legal recreational marijuana, and 38 states that have legalized medical marijuana. Despite such widespread reform, some states retain harsh marijuana laws first established decades ago.

That said, below are the five states with the harshest marijuana laws (in no particular order):
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Federal “Stop Pot Act” Effectively Dead

Federal legislation in the United States House of Representatives designed to withhold funds from states and tribes that have legalized marijuana is essentially dead for this legislative session.

The Stop Pot Act was filed in September by Representative Chuck Edwards (R-NC), and it currently has four cosponsors (all Republican). The measure would withhold federal funding from states and tribes that have legalized recreational marijuana.

Specifically, if the measure was passed into law the federal government would withhold 10% of federal highway funds from states that violate the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The CSA considers marijuana to be a schedule I drug, meaning any state that allows its legalization is in violation of federal law and thus would have funds withheld.
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US Supreme Court Agrees to Take Up Case of Truck Driver Fired for THC

The Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to hear a case involving a truck driver who was fired after testing positive for THC, which he claims resulted from using a hemp-based CBD product that the company advertised as having “0% THC”.

Trucker Douglas Horn alleges the positive test for THC resulted from using a CBD product marketed by Medical Marijuana, Inc. as containing “0% THC.” Horn initially filed the suit in 2015 under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, arguing that the company’s misleading advertising led him to use the product for pain relief.

A lower court ruled in favor of allowing Horn’s RICO lawsuit to move forward. However, Medical Marijuana, Inc. appealed the decision, prompting the Supreme Court’s involvement.
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