Jago Times "English Edition" Best Online Newspaper
The Biden Administration is reportedly considering a significant shift in federal marijuana regulation, as per NBC News. Their proposal suggests reclassifying the drug from its current Schedule I controlled substance status, shared with LSD and heroin, to Schedule III. This adjustment would align marijuana’s legal status with substances like Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids.
Since the enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1971, marijuana has been categorized as a Schedule I drug federally. Moving it to Schedule III would enable the government to explore potential medical benefits more freely.
Nick Stevens, Executive Director of Decriminalize Denton, emphasized the potential for substantial changes due to this reclassification, particularly in access to marijuana. Despite Denton voters passing a proposition to decriminalize marijuana in 2022, the city council hesitated to enforce it last June due to concerns about conflicting with state and federal laws.
Advocates hoped that the proposed reclassification would pave the way for easier access to marijuana in their community. However, not all stakeholders shared this sentiment. Texas State Rep. Matt Shaheen expressed concerns about the negative impact of increased marijuana access on Texas communities, highlighting addiction rates and rising THC levels in cannabis samples.
While advocates celebrated the potential end to the decades-long war on drugs, opponents, including Shaheen, reiterated their commitment to opposing marijuana expansion in Texas. The final decision on federal marijuana policy change was expected to take months, pending the publication of a proposal by the Department of Health and Human Services and subsequent judicial review.
Furthermore, Attorney General Ken Paxton’s legal actions against Denton and other Texas cities with relaxed marijuana prosecution policies underscored the ongoing legal and political battles surrounding marijuana regulation in the state.