The Biden administration made a groundbreaking move on Thursday by submitting a proposed rule to the Federal Register to downgrade marijuana from the most restrictive category of drugs, Schedule I, to Schedule III. This significant shift in classification signals a change in how the federal government views marijuana, acknowledging its medicinal value and lower potential for abuse.
The proposal is subject to a 60-day comment period before it can take effect, kicking off a lengthy approval process. The categories of controlled substances, which determine production amounts, access, research, and legal consequences, have long been a topic of debate. Some experts argue that substances like cigarettes and alcohol, which are not in any of the controlled substance categories, should be included in Schedule I due to their high risk of abuse and addiction.
In a recorded video, President Biden praised the move as “monumental,” stating, “Far too many lives have been upended because of a failed approach to marijuana, and I’m committed to righting those wrongs.”
The five categories, or schedules, of controlled substances include Schedule I, which includes drugs like heroin, L.S.D., ecstasy, and magic mushrooms, and is reserved for substances with no currently accepted medical use and a high risk for abuse. Schedule II includes substances with some medical value but a high risk for abuse, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and painkillers like Vicodin and OxyContin.
Schedule III drugs are considered to have a low to moderate risk of abuse, including Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone, and now marijuana. This change in classification will have implications for producers in states where marijuana is legal, as drugs in the top two categories cannot take tax exemptions for business expenses.
The move to downgrade marijuana’s classification is a step towards reforming drug policy in the United States and addressing the impact of the failed approach to marijuana. President Biden’s commitment to righting these wrongs is a promising sign for advocates of drug policy reform.
