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‘Last thing we should be focusing on,’ fires baffled American after Biden vows to make marijuana less dangerous drug
The news drew all kinds of reactions
MARIJUANA is expected to be reclassified by the US Drug Enforcement Administration thanks to a historic proposal.
The White House Office of Management and Budget is set to review a proposal, which recognizes weed as a less dangerous drug.
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However, it would not legalize marijuana for recreational use.
This would be the biggest policy change from the agency in more than 50 years.
If the OMB signs off on the proposal, the DEA will take comments from the public on the decision to change marijuana from being a Schedule I drug, similar to heroin and LSD.
The drug would then be considered Scheduled III, alongside ketamine and anabolic steroids.
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Attorney General Merrick Garland is expected to formally sign the proposal, a source told the Associated Press.
The news comes after President Joe Biden called for a review of federal cannabis law in 2022.
The president pardoned thousands of Americans that were convicted of possessing marijuana and he's also called on governments and state leaders to take similar steps.
"Criminal records for marijuana use and possession have imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities," Biden said in December 2023.
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"Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs."
DEBATE REIGNITES
The news has drawn reactions from both sides of the debate.
"I'm all for adults safely enjoying some marijuana but this is the last thing we should be focusing on right now," wrote one person on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"It's about time," wrote another person. "Marijuana is already legal in half the states. The federal government is a decade behind on this."
"And they better free every single person incarcerated for marijuana," wrote a third person.
Others, meanwhile, slammed marijuana for being a "gateway drug," which may lead users to try out other drugs.
"It's all about the money. Pot is still a very dangerous drug," wrote one person.
"[This] will lead to further problems," wrote another.
Biden, along with lawmakers from both parties have been pushing for marijuana to become decriminalized.
About 70% of US adults support legalization, according to a Gallup poll last year.
This is the highest level recorded by the firm, more than double the 30% who supported legalization back in 2000.
"It's time for the DEA to act," read a letter to the agency by 21 Democrats led by Senate Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer.
"Right now, the Administration has the opportunity to resolve more than 50 years of failed, racially discriminatory marijuana policy."
Schedule III drugs are considered controlled substances and are still subject to rules and regulations.
People who smuggle them into the country without permission can still face criminal prosecution.
Jack Riley, a former deputy administrator for the DEA, had concerns over the proposed change.
"But in terms of us getting clear to use our resources to combat other major drugs, that’s a positive," he told the outlet.
Riley added that while he believes pot is a gateway drug, fentanyl has done more damage in the US, accounting for more than 100,000 deaths a year.
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As a Schedule III drug, marijuana would be regulated by the DEA, which means that weed dispensaries in the US - about 15,000 of them - will have to register with the agency like regular pharmacies.