Senators Applaud Health Department Proposal to Relax Marijuana Regulations

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has submitted a recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regarding marijuana policy, and Senate leaders are praising it as a positive move towards relaxing federal restrictions on the drug. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the agency has responded to President Joe Biden’s request to provide a scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA. Becerra added that they have worked to ensure a speedy scientific evaluation of the drug.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement applauding HHS’s recommendation to move marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance. Schumer believes that this is an important step that the DEA should follow through on to reduce the harm caused by stringent marijuana laws. Rescheduling marijuana would likely lead to reduced or potentially eliminated criminal penalties for possession. Currently, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. According to the DEA, Schedule I drugs have no accepted medical use, lack safety for medical supervision, and have a high potential for abuse.

Schedule III drugs, on the other hand, have a lower potential for abuse compared to substances in Schedules I or II and may result in moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence. Examples of current Schedule III drugs include ketamine and certain anabolic steroids.

President Biden requested this review in October 2022 as he issued pardons to thousands of Americans convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden has expressed his desire for marijuana to be completely descheduled, but acknowledges that the HHS recommendation to reschedule it as a Schedule III drug is still a significant step towards aligning cannabis policies with reality.

The nonprofit U.S. Cannabis Council warmly welcomed the news of the HHS recommendation, stating that rescheduling marijuana will bring numerous benefits, including signaling to the criminal justice system that cannabis is a lower priority and providing much-needed economic support to the cannabis industry.

Bloomberg News was the first to report on the HHS recommendation.