III . Once that proposal is published by the Federal Register , it will initiate a formal rulemaking process , Hinojosa said .
CNN notes the rulemaking process includes a public comment period and can be a lengthy process .
Currently , marijuana is scheduled as a Schedule I drug along with drugs like heroin , ecstasy , and other drugs that have no accepted medical use and pose a high risk of abuse . Schedule I drugs are subject to the highest restrictions .
Schedule III controlled substances include prescription medications such as ketamine and Tylenol with codeine . The marijuana reclassify proposal will not legalize the drug for recreational use , according to the Associated Press .
Reclassifying marijuana to Schedule III will not legalize the drug at the federal level ; the manufacture , distribution , and possession of recreational marijuana would still be illegal under federal law .
Last fall , the U . S . Department of Health and Human Services recommended the Drug Enforcement Agency reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance .
The U . S . Food and Drug Administration ’ s Controlled Substance Staff also recommended marijuana reclassify to Schedule III because the drug has a lower potential of abuse that other Schedule I and II drugs , it has medical uses accepted in the United States and a low to moderate risk of physical dependence in people who abuse the drug .
The National Institute on Drug Abuse also supported the recommendation , according to CNN .
The role of cannabis in the United States has rapidly transformed in the last decade and is now a multibilliondollar industry . Twenty-four states , two territories , and Washington DC have legalized recreational use , and 38 states reportedly allow medical use of the drug .
A Gallup poll last November found that 70 % of Americans surveyed supported cannabis legalization .
NY AG reaches $ 270M multistate opioid settlement with Amneal Pharmaceuticals
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a $ 270 million multistate opioid settlement with Amneal Pharmaceuticals over the drug maker ’ s alleged role in the nationwide opioid crisis , Law360 reports .
Amneal manufactures generic opioid drugs and sold close to nine billion pills between 2006 and 2019 , according to James ’ May 3 press release . The drug maker had been accused of violating federal law by failing to monitor and report suspicious orders of opioids .
The Amneal Pharmaceuticals settlement will reportedly provide $ 92.5 million over the next decade and $ 180 worth of the overdose treatment medication naloxone to participating states and local governments .
The attorneys general of California , Delaware , Tennessee , Utah , and Virginia also negotiated with Amneal Pharmaceuticals to reach the opioid settlement in principle .
“ While this settlement can ’ t fully reverse the damage done as a result of the national crisis , it will provide essential funding and resources for New York and other states to ensure those suffering get the help they need ,” James said . “ I am proud to have secured over $ 2.7 billion to tackle the opioid epidemic in New York , and my office will continue to hold accountable the companies responsible for fueling this crisis .”
Amneal Pharmaceuticals did not
admit wrongdoing when it agreed to the opioid settlement in principle .
“ We remain committed to helping those impacted by the opioid crisis by enhancing access to naloxone nasal spray , which is an emergency treatment for opioid overdose and helps save lives ,” Amneal Pharmaceuticals said in a statement .
Earlier this year , Hikma Pharmaceuticals agreed to a $ 150 million opioid settlement over similar allegations that it helped fuel the opioid crisis by failing to report suspicious orders of the drug .
Attorney General James says she filed the most extensive opioid lawsuit in 2019 , taking aim at opioid makers and distributors for their alleged role in fueling the opioid crisis . She has teamed up with attorneys general in other states to secure billions of dollars in opioid settlements with pharmaceutical giants CVS , Walgreens , and Walmart for allegedly failing to properly regulate prescriptions .