#CannabisReform #healthpolicy #JusticeEquality
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has urged the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to rapidly reschedule cannabis, emphasizing the urgency to align with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recommendations.
While advocating for complete descheduling, she acknowledges the potential benefits of moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This change would facilitate medical use and research, addressing chronic pain, nerve pain, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The senator’s call follows an 11-month scientific review by HHS, initiated by President Joe Biden, highlighting the lower harm potential of cannabis compared to other Schedule I substances like heroin.
This reclassification could also help correct the racial disparities caused by the federal cannabis policy, as punitive measures have historically targeted minority communities.
Gillibrand, known for her advocacy for cannabis legalization and reforms addressing the harms of the drug war, has been a consistent voice in this arena. In 2018, she challenged then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to face those affected by cannabis-related arrests.
This push for policy change is not isolated. A bipartisan group of 31 House lawmakers has also pressured the DEA, emphasizing the need to consider state legalization efforts and pushing for the complete removal of cannabis from the CSA. However, there’s opposition, with some congressional figures and former DEA and White House drug czars arguing against even a move to Schedule III. Two GOP senators have filed legislation to prevent federal agencies from rescheduling cannabis without Congress’s approval.
On the first anniversary of Biden’s mass cannabis pardon, advocates and supportive lawmakers urged further action, including broader relief and explicit support for federal legalization. There’s speculation on the DEA’s timeline for completing its cannabis review, with expectations of possible rescheduling before the next presidential election.
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