US Plans to Reclassify Cannabis as Less Dangerous Drug, But Not Legalize It for Recreational Use

Published: 01 May 2024 at 06:19

Health

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is considering reclassifying cannabis as a less dangerous drug with medical properties and lower potential for abuse, moving it from a 'schedule one' substance to 'schedule three', alongside ketamine and anabolic steroids. This proposal, part of President Joe Biden's call for a review of federal marijuana laws, aims to pardon thousands with cannabis convictions but does not legalize recreational use. Some experts like Jack Riley express concerns over cannabis as a potential 'gateway drug', linked to increased psychosis risk in young users.

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Drug Enforcement Administration (Wikipedia)

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a United States federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Justice tasked with combating illicit drug trafficking and distribution within the U.S. It is the lead agency for domestic enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act, sharing concurrent jurisdiction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. However, the DEA has sole responsibility for coordinating and pursuing U.S. drug investigations both domestically and internationally. It was established in 1973 as part of the U.S. government's war on drugs. The DEA has an intelligence unit that is also a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community. While the unit is part of the DEA chain-of-command, it also reports to the Director of National Intelligence. The DEA has been criticized for scheduling drugs that have medical uses, and for focusing on operations that allow it to seize money rather than those involving drugs that cause more harm.