Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) commended President Biden and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday for their recommendation to reschedule marijuana to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). This move marks a significant step towards reducing federal regulations on the drug.
Last year, President Biden requested the HHS to examine the possibility of rescheduling marijuana, and now their recommendation has been passed on to the DEA, who has the final decision-making power.
“Yesterday’s action is a major victory for the Biden administration and a positive step forward in marijuana policy,” stated Fetterman. “I’m pleased to see that the administration aligns with what we’ve known for some time now: marijuana should not be classified as a Schedule I drug.”
He continued, “Reclassifying marijuana will bring significant benefits to people in Pennsylvania and across the nation, particularly our veterans who rely on it for conditions like PTSD.”
Fetterman has long been an advocate for marijuana deregulation since joining the Senate last year. He has been working towards its legalization in Pennsylvania and collaborating with the Biden administration to expand pardons for offenses related to marijuana.
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Last year, President Biden pardoned all federal marijuana possession convictions and urged governors to do the same for state offenses.
Under Schedule I regulation, drugs like heroin and cocaine face the highest degree of scrutiny. This classification indicates that the drugs have no medical value and a high potential for abuse. However, marijuana is already legal for medical purposes in 38 states, as well as the District of Columbia.
In addition, 23 states and D.C. have legalized marijuana for recreational use, while many municipalities across the country have decriminalized it.
The HHS recommendations propose that marijuana should be classified as a Schedule III drug, which applies to substances with a “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”
Reclassifying marijuana would also result in lower taxes for businesses selling the drug in states where it is legal, as these businesses are currently unable to take advantage of numerous tax deductions.
However, Fetterman emphasized the need to remain cautious. He said, “We must acknowledge that we have been here before, with scientific support for rescheduling, only to be hindered by the DEA and its destructive ‘War on Drugs’ mentality. We mustn’t let that happen again.”
The DEA’s decision is anticipated to take about a year, based on previous scheduling change processes. The agency’s administrator stated in a House committee meeting last month that she has not been given a specific timeline for decision-making.
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