U.S. Justice Department Moves to Reclassify Marijuana as a Lower-Risk Drug

The U.S. Department of Justice is moving to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, marking a significant shift in decades of federal drug policy. The proposal aims to transition marijuana from Schedule I, the most restrictive category, to Schedule III, which includes substances with recognized medical uses. While this change does not federally legalize recreational marijuana, it acknowledges the drug’s medical benefits and lower potential for abuse. The move is expected to have wide-reaching effects on scientific research, criminal justice, and the financial operations of state-legal cannabis businesses.

• The DEA is expected to approve a recommendation to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.
• This reclassification follows a formal review by the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the drug’s medical utility and safety profile.
• As a Schedule III substance, marijuana would be recognized as having a lower potential for physical or psychological dependence than Schedule I or II drugs.
• The change would allow cannabis companies to deduct standard business expenses from federal taxes, an action currently prohibited under tax code 280E.
• Federal reclassification is expected to ease significant barriers to clinical research and the development of marijuana-based pharmaceuticals.
• The proposal must undergo a public comment period and a review by the White House Office of Management and Budget before the rule is finalized.

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