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Joe Biden Endorses Marijuana Reclassification: The US government on Thursday formally proposed reclassifying marijuana as a ‘less dangerous’ drug, a historic change that would bring federal policy into line with public opinion.
“No one should be in prison simply for using or possessing marijuana,” US President Joe Biden said in a video statement, according to AFP.
The US President said, ‘Many people’s lives have been ruined due to the wrong attitude towards marijuana and I am committed to correcting those mistakes.’
Marijuana has been classified as a so-called Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) since 1970, putting it on the same level as heroin, ecstasy and LSD. This classification means it has no accepted medical use and is highly susceptible to abuse.
What will change with the new proposal ?
Under the new proposal, marijuana would be downgraded to a ‘Schedule III drug’. It would be placed with ketamine and codeine-containing painkillers, which are considered to have a low to medium potential for dependence. This would not make it legal, but it would lead to fewer arrests at the federal level.
The proposal was unveiled by the Biden administration in late April and the Justice Department officially began the process on Thursday.
Marijuana will remain a controlled substance until the process is completed — which includes a public comment period and a possible hearing before a judge.
In 2022, Biden became the first president to launch a federal review of marijuana policy.
According to AFP, a Pew Research Center survey found that 88 percent of Americans believe marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use. Only 11 percent said it should not be legal at all.
