Congressional lawmakers might be encouraged by news that the top U.S. health agency is recommending marijuana rescheduling—but some like Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) are also stressing that this is just a “step” in the right direction as they pursue legalization.
Scores of legislators, including Republican members, have applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for advising the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). And some have even claimed credit for the move, pointing to their years of advocacy around marijuana reform.
But while there’s largely consensus around the idea that cannabis does not belong in Schedule I alongside drugs like heroin, marijuana would still remain generally prohibited under federal law as a Schedule III substance. It would remove research barriers and allow state-licensed cannabis businesses to make federal tax deductions, among other political implications. But advocates, as well as key lawmakers, don’t view rescheduling as the end goal.
“I’ve long urged federal action to begin repairing the harms from unjust drug laws & build a more equitable cannabis industry,” Warren said on Friday. “This move by [HHS] is an important
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