The DEA will decide whether to change course on marijuana by July

[Sunlei]

Source: Washington Post

In a lengthy memo to lawmakers, the Drug Enforcement Administration said it hopes to decide whether to change the federal status of marijuana "in the first half of 2016."

Marijuana is currently listed under the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning that for the purposes of federal law, the drug has "no medical use and a high potential for abuse" and is one of "the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence." Marijuana shares Schedule 1 status with heroin, and it is more strictly regulated than the powerful prescription painkillers that have killed more than 165,000 people since 1999.

First set in 1970, marijuana's classification under the Controlled Substances Act has become increasingly out of step with scientific research, public opinion, medical use and state law. Citing marijuana's potentially significant therapeutic potential for a number of serious ailments, including chronic pain and epilepsy, organizations such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have called on the DEA to change the drug's scheduling status.

But the DEA has rebuffed numerous previous attempts at rescheduling, sometimes after decades of stonewalling, and in at least one case overrode the recommendation of its own administrative judge. The current petition before the DEA was initiated by then-governors Christine Gregoire of Washington and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island in 2011. In a previous letter to lawmakers, the DEA indicated it had all the information it needed to make the decision as of last September.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/04/06/the-dea-will-decide-whether-to-change-course-on-marijuana-by-july/

[phazed0]

1. Not holding my breath for anything smart from the DEA nt

[mike_c]

2. the DEA is the last agency I would trust that decision to....

They have a massive conflict of interest since cannabis prohibition is a bread-and-butter issue for the DEA.

[stuffmatters]

8. Conflict of interest plus no medical expertise

This is a medical issue not a criminal issue and should be decided by medical experts recommendations to Obama, who needs then to step up and reclassify marijuana and end this insane tragedy and waste.

[Iggo]

3. The DEA will decide? I never voted for them.

Who do they work for?

[ohnoyoudidnt]

14. IIRC, the President can legally change the scheduling,

it is very disappointing that he has not done so. It's only a matter of time. The people want it and they are proving it with petitions and voting. It is unfortunate that many will suffer before we finally get where we need to be because so many politicians won't do the right thing.

[SCVDem]

4. Just stop pre employment testing

Since the persistence of thc is sometimes over 8 weeks, this must end.

Heroin is gone after a few days fercrissakes!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. Not THC that persists; byproducts and metabolites dissolve in body fat, so NO THC high. . . nt

[christx30]

5. "We considered the treatments that were being held back, and

their potential to help10's of thousands of people worldwide. But then we considered how much money there is to be made in keeping it illegal. Why, prescription drugs alone are worth hundred of millions every year. So we decided to keep it illegal. You want a reason? I got yer reasons right here."

[TeamPooka]

6. Prohibition is a failed public policy, again. #fail nt

[Sunlei]

7. I think they will move it to schedule 3, be better if they drop it all together but whatever

Obama did remove all federal funding through a couple of bills but most states still love and use their cash/property seizure laws

[tabasco]

9. Have they decided that the Earth revolves around the sun yet?

The ghastly marijuana laws in this country are irrational and unjust. Every person of reasonable intelligence knows this already but the DEA is still figuring it out. This is why people lose faith in government. Stupid people making laws and stupid people enforcing them.

[rollin74]

10. marijuana should be classified the same as alcohol when it comes to the controlled substance sched.

which is OFF the fucking list!

don't re-schedule it. remove it


not that I expect the DEA to do what's right on this issue. I'm pretty certain they won't

[rurallib]

11. can they do that? Isn't Obama a lame duck?

for the humour impaired.

[houston16revival]

12. ReClassify

"no medical use and a high potential for abuse" and is one of "the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence."

Sounds like a sugar high

[pbmus]

16. LMAO...

[SCVDem]

13. No medical value.

That's why the feds have a patent on it.

Hypocritical bastards.

[beltanefauve]

17. Big Pharma

would rather we use their products instead of self -medicating. The number one-reason medical cannabis patients give for using cannabis is because of pharmaceuticals: either they are trying to avoid the side effects, or worse, addiction. Patients who have been prescribed opiates can often cut back on their usage or go off them completely.

[blackspade]

18. Could there be a dumber organisation?

This one government agency that could be abolished as it serves no social purpose other than enriching assholes.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

19. Watch them bring it down to schedule 2.

Schedule 2 (II) Drugs. The drug has a high potential for abuse. The drug has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse of the drug may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

[Sunlei]

20. I know, it shouldn't even be a 3.