The governor of Colorado is applauding President Joe Biden after his administration’s top health agency recommended rescheduling marijuana—but he says the initial move must be followed with more action to address cannabis banking, immigration, criminal justice reform and federal enforcement concerns.
That should include developing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance clarifying that it will not interfere in state-legal marijuana activities, he said.
In a letter sent to Biden on Tuesday, Gov. Jared Polis (D) commended the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for advising the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
“It’s about time,” the governor said. “This is an historic moment and we owe you and your Administration a debt of gratitude for your leadership on catching up with where the science is.”
Polis was among the first top officials to react to the HHS recommendation last week, with a spokesperson emphasizing that a Schedule III classification would finally allow state-licensed marijuana businesses to take federal tax deductions, for example.
The governor told Biden in the new letter that while he expects DEA will “expeditiously” complete its review and move marijuana to Schedule
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