Canna Advocacy
Rescheduling vs . Descheduling
Cannabis : A Comprehensive Understanding
Deschedule
Schedule 2 by Leah Maurer , contributing writer
The ongoing dialogue at the national level in the United States about changing the legal status of cannabis has captured widespread attention . Presently , the federal government classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug , indicating no recognized medicinal use and a high potential for abuse . Contrary to this classification , the medicinal benefits of cannabis have been acknowledged by consumers and medical marijuana patients ( and even some independent research ) across the nation for many years . There has been a lot of discussion around the recent conversations taking place at the federal level in the United States regarding the rescheduling of cannabis .
The status of cannabis in the United States has long been a subject of debate , reform , and controversy . However , very recently , President Biden ’ s Administration is considering a recommendation to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III substance . Federal health officials determined marijuana poses a lower public health risk than other controlled substances and offers possible medical benefits and have proposed ending its designation as among the riskiest drugs , according to the latest documents released . This is the first time the Department of Health and Human Services has publicly acknowledged marijuana ’ s medical use . In August , the agency recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration ( DEA ) change marijuana ’ s classification as a Schedule I drug , a designation reserved for substances that have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use . However , the DEA has yet to act on this recommendation .
To give a little background , the political conversation over the years around cannabis legalization at the federal level has primarily revolved around two key terms : “ rescheduling ” and “ descheduling .” While both terms imply a shift from the current federal classification of cannabis , they have distinct implications and potential outcomes . As we already know , there have been increasing calls for the reform of cannabis laws , especially in light of its medicinal potential . Many states have legalized either medical or adult-use marijuana programs , and there ’ s growing bipartisan support for research into its therapeutic applications . Amidst this growing evidence of its medicinal properties and the economic growth potential offered by the cannabis industry , calls for changes to cannabis laws have intensified .
Rescheduling Cannabis
When discussing the rescheduling of cannabis , it refers to the act of reclassifying the drug under the Controlled Substances Act ( CSA ). As mentioned , cannabis is currently classified as a Schedule I substance , alongside drugs like heroin and LSD . This classification implies that cannabis has a high potential for abuse , has no accepted medical use in treatment , and lacks accepted safety for use under medical supervision . You may be surprised to learn that even cocaine is a Schedule II drug under the CSA , meaning it has a high potential for abuse but also has an accepted medical use for treatment in the United States . If the federal government reschedules cannabis , this means it would recognize some potential medical benefits and reduce the associated criminal penalties . However , cannabis would still remain a controlled substance , subject to federal regulations and oversight .
Brennan England is the Missouri State Director for Minorities for Medical Marijuana ( M4MM ) and the Founder of the St . louis Cannabis Club and Cola Private Lounge . When asked about the differences between rescheduling and descheduling cannabis , England said , “ Structures / laws that have been put in place lend heavy advantage to existing corporate entities and infrastructures that are already a part of systemic racism , and in that kind of double down on building on the backs of the people who this industry should really be supporting first ... things like social equity , prioritizing expungement and rebuilding prisoners lives who have been affected by the plant and giving them a place in the industry , those things should not be an afterthought or ingredient to sprinkle on top , they should be things that are baked in .”
Additionally , prominent cannabis advocacy organizations have been vocal on this issue . Drug Policy Alliance ( DPA ) remains firm in its stance that rescheduling marijuana would continue marijuana criminalization at the federal level and would continue to
22 May 2024