Current Events > Justice Department takes 'major step' toward rescheduling marijuana

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/reschedule-marijuana-drug-joe-biden-justice-department-rcna152603

The Drug Enforcement Administration submitted a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register on Thursday afternoon, triggering a 60-day comment period that will allow members of the public to submit remarks regarding the rescheduling proposal before it is finalized.

Biden first directed federal agencies to review how marijuana is scheduled in October 2022, weeks before that years midterm elections. The process was led by the DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Look folks, no one should be in jail for merely using or possessing marijuana. Period, Biden said in Thursdays video, his third time speaking extensively on the topic since his directive two years ago.

The second time Biden addressed the issue was during this years State of the Union address, making history by referring to marijuana from the dais in the House chamber. No one should be jailed for using or possessing marijuana, he said at the time.

During the first 30 days of the comment period, interested parties could request a hearing regarding the rescheduling proposal. Under the statute, the DEA would be required to hold a hearing before an administrative law judge.

After the DEA reviews and considers the public comments, and at the conclusion of any requested hearing, the DEA will issue a final order to reschedule marijuana. (The DEA could decline to reschedule the drug but thats unlikely given the administrations strong support).

The entire process can take anywhere from a few months to up to a year.

Once completed, federal scientists will be able to research and study the potential medical benefits of the drug for the first time since the Controlled Substances Act was enacted in 1971. It could also open the door for pharmaceutical companies to get involved with the sale and distribution of medical marijuana in states where it is legal.

Good. I'm glad they knocked it down but schedule 3 for weed is still a little goofy.

Good (and good for my weed stocks)

I thought this happened already. Laws are annoying with all the steps

boomgetchopped3 posted...

I thought this happened already. Laws are annoying with all the steps

Yeah, this still might not fully happen for another year. The slow process of bureaucracy sadly

A lot of major companies are no longer testing.

Ford and Amazon specifically stated on their apps that their drug test didnt include marijuana.

they seem a bit behind schedule with doing this...why not legalize it outright?

BucketCat posted...

they seem a bit behind schedule with doing this...why not legalize it outright?

That's a job for Congress and a bill always fails.

From an executive standpoint, this is probably what Biden can do from the executive office.

Cemith posted...

Good. I'm glad they knocked it down but schedule 3 for weed is still a little goofy.

It's the same schedule as barbiturates which kind of makes sense relative to the rest of the schedule.

This is only good if full legalization and extensive expunging of criminal records not only continues, but gains momentum. Any person that suggests this is sufficient measures should be harshly ridiculed, and any politician that does so should lose all support in the primaries.

DarkChozoGhost posted...

This is only good if full legalization and extensive expunging of criminal records not only continues, but gains momentum. Any person that suggests this is sufficient measures should be harshly ridiculed, and any politician that does so should lose all support in the primaries.

It's not sufficient, but it's absolutely going in the right direction.

DarkChozoGhost posted...

This is only good if full legalization and extensive expunging of criminal records not only continues, but gains momentum. Any person that suggests this is sufficient measures should be harshly ridiculed, and any politician that does so should lose all support in the primaries.

Its not perfect but to take this move as anything but a win is the wrong way to go about this.

About damn time.

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

Its not perfect but to take this move as anything but a win is the wrong way to go about this.

This will make it more difficult for decriminalization legislature introduced on state level to gain support. Such legislature protects the rights of Americans a lot more than rescheduling does.

As long as states continue to push, the rescheduling will be a small step in the right direction. If state legislature fails to pass because of this, if rescheduling successfully becomes a faux finish line as Biden and Harris intend, then they need to be punished.

DarkChozoGhost posted...

This will make it more difficult for decriminalization legislature introduced on state level to gain support. Such legislature protects the rights of Americans a lot more than rescheduling does.

As long as states continue to push, the rescheduling will be a small step in the right direction. If state legislature fails to pass because of this, if rescheduling successfully becomes a faux finish line as Biden and Harris intend, then they need to be punished.

Literally anything does more than leaving it as at the class its currently scheduled as. Nobody needs to be punished because they did something objectively good for weed acceptance in this country.

Youve done this weird thing about being against rescheduling to class 3 before in the past too. Just take the wins as they come and dont expect perfection

Imagine a road is full of potholes, that damage vehicles going over. There's been an ongoing effort to fill these potholes, but only a couple a paved at a time. It would take another 5 years to finish filling these potholes. Instead of properly filling a few at a time, they decide to pour some gravel in the remaining ones. It's still rough on the cars, but ever so slightly eased. But now the holes aren't being properly filled anymore. Another 15 years go by, thousands more vehicles are scratched an damaged, and the road isn't fixed yet.

DarkChozoGhost posted...

Imagine a road is full of potholes, that damage vehicles going over. There's been an ongoing effort to fill these potholes, but only a couple a paved at a time. It would take another 5 years to finish filling these potholes. Instead of properly filling a few at a time, they decide to pour some gravel in the remaining ones. It's still rough on the cars, but ever so slightly eased. But now the holes aren't being properly filled anymore. Another 15 years go by, thousands more vehicles are scratched a damaged, and the road isn't fixed yet.

nobody is getting damaged by making marijuana regulation less strict. People are literally only benefitting from this schedule change, so that analogy does not work

Youre also just basing your entire argument off an assumption that this will stop the process of legalization, which i dont understand

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

Youre also just basing your entire argument off an assumption that this will stop the process of legalization, which i dont understand

It will slooooow the process. It makes it seem "less urgent" to fix the problem (even though it's not), so state congresses won't put bills on the floor that they otherwise would have.

Biden's intention is to keep marijuana illegal for longer. That's his goal.

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

nobody is getting damaged by making marijuana regulation less strict. People are literally only benefitting from this schedule change, so that analogy does not work

Youre also just basing your entire argument off an assumption that this will stop the process of legalization, which i dont understand

He's probably saying "they'll think it's good enough and just stop there", which is nonsense because every state I know of that eventually got full legalization went from decrim -> medicinal -> recreational. I don't know if any who jumped from 0 to 100, so it demonstrates that states prefer to take this at a slower pace and Biden's pace on this is the only federal pace we've had.

DarkChozoGhost posted...

It will slooooow the process. It makes it seem "less urgent" to fix the problem (even though it's not), so state congresses won't put bills on the floor that they otherwise would have.

Biden's intention is to keep marijuana illegal for longer. That's his goal.

I dont even know how to argue against this

Youre saying that the president who was able to get weed rescheduled and pardoned weed possession crimes.secretly wants weed to stay illegal for longer????

I get what they're saying tbh. They're worried that some people - in particular those with influence - might decide to just stop there, whereas if the status quo remains for now then the eventual change will be even greater.

I'm not saying I agree with their logic (my earlier post in this topic should make it clear I don't). But I do see where they're coming from.

It's schedule 6 in my state. Like I think they literally made up a whole extra schedule just for it. Odd considering they refuse to legalize it here.

Also wild to think it's as low as it can go here but cross the border to the next state and it's schedule 1. Or was

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

Youre saying that the president who was able to get weed rescheduled and pardoned weed possession crimes.secretly wants weed to stay illegal for longer????

Excessive use can cause paranoia.

tankboy posted...

Excessive use can cause paranoia.

Edit because im hoping I misread the intent of your post.

I dont think that user is making these arguments because of excessive weed use.

Trumble posted...

I get what they're saying tbh. They're worried that some people - in particular those with influence - might decide to just stop there, whereas if the status quo remains for now then the eventual change will be even greater.

I'm not saying I agree with their logic (my earlier post in this topic should make it clear I don't). But I do see where they're coming from.

Its still an argument completely based on assumption and claims that Joe Biden, who has done the most for weed of probably any president, secretly wants it to stay illegal.

I genuinely do not see where they are coming from

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

i dont think its trolling i think they genuinely believe that

That user has made the exact same argument every time this has come up and never budged on it

That's fine and all, but whatever laws they make should also make sense.

Like in my state you can grow 2 plants but can't possess over 1.5 ounces. Even one shitty plant will produce more than 1.5 ounces dry unless it's straight up Charlie Brown Christmas tree level. 2 healthy plants should yield at least 6 ounces on the conservative side.

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

Its still an argument completely based on assumption and claims that Joe Biden, who has done the most for weed of probably any president, secretly wants it to stay illegal.

I genuinely do not see where they are coming from

They're likely thinking in terms of the system as a whole (including potential future presidents). It's not exactly that farfetched to think that government types might see this and say "something's happened, let's focus on other matters instead".

More a "let's leave it at this and not bother going any futher" than an actively malicious "let's conspire to keep it illegal".

Again, not saying I agree with their logic. Just explaining how I can understand it.

Hm, yeah, okay, missed that. I'm a bit lost too then.

Tyranthraxus posted...

It's the same schedule as barbiturates which kind of makes sense relative to the rest of the schedule.

Tylenol with codeine is a schedule 3 drug

Biden doesn't want it to be completely legal. That's not a secret, that's his open stance on it. He believes that rescheduling and keeping it illegal is the correct, permanent solution. The pardons are good at least, but it's slow and not helping everyone that needs it.

DarkChozoGhost posted...

Biden doesn't want it to be completely legal. That's not a secret, that's his open stance on it. He believes that rescheduling and keeping it illegal is the correct, permanent solution. The pardons are good at least, but it's slow and not helping everyone that needs it.

Literally where are you getting this shit from

you want a 100% perfect solution and refuse to acknowledge any steps forward as a good thing

DarkChozoGhost posted...

Biden doesn't want it to be completely legal. That's not a secret, that's his open stance on it. He believes that rescheduling and keeping it illegal is the correct, permanent solution. The pardons are good at least, but it's slow and not helping everyone that needs it.

This is just making shit up to be upset about

We got pardons, we're potentially getting a rescheduling, and Biden outright said he doesn't think anyone should be jailed for using or possessing cannabis. Keeping it schedule 1 in the hope that it hustles along legalization is just accelerationist nonsense