DEA Proposes Reclassifying Marijuana as Schedule III Drug
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous — but still restricted — drug.
The Details: The DEA's proposal, which has yet to be finalized and will undergo a 60-day review period, suggests moving marijuana from its Schedule I narcotic status — alongside heroin and LSD — to Schedule III, which covers drugs such as ketamine and codeine. The policy change has spurred reactions in the cannabis industry, and several marijuana stocks rose by up to 25%. The rescheduling would allow more research and formal prescriptions, as well as letting cannabis companies deduct business expenses on their taxes.
For Context: Marijuana was previously banned under the Controlled Substances Act in 1970, but President Joe Biden called on the Department of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to review how marijuana is scheduled in October 2022. In August 2023, the HHS concluded that marijuana holds certain acceptable medical benefits.
How the Media Covered It: News coverage was common across the spectrum, with several mainstream outlets rated Lean Left and Center publishing analyses of the policy’s consequences on Wednesday. Coverage of the DEA’s critics varied across the spectrum, seemingly regardless of partisanship. While Republican politicians are more likely to oppose marijuana legalization, the Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) only mentioned critics who wanted fewer restrictions. On the other hand, AP (Lean Left bias) covered critics on both sides. This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Biden Administration Aims to Reclassify Marijuana as Less Dangerous DrugThe Biden administration is seeking to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a historic move that could make it much easier to buy and sell pot and make the multibillion-dollar industry more profitable.
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday submitted a proposal for White House review that would move marijuana out of the government’s most restrictive drug classification. Marijuana has been designated as a Schedule I drug since 1970, alongside LSD and heroin.
From the Right
Biden admin will move to reclassify marijuana as 'less dangerous drug' in historic shiftThe U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced on Tuesday that it will move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, Fox News has confirmed.
The planned move by the Biden administration comes during an election year.
This proposal, if passed, would recognize the medical uses of cannabis and acknowledge it has less potential for abuse than some of the nation’s most dangerous drugs.
However, it would not legalize marijuana outright for recreational use.
"Attorney General Garland is submitting a new rule to OMB as soon as today which would reclassify marijuana," a Biden administration official told Fox New....
From the Left
Biden gives cannabis industry a badly needed winThe U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is recommending that cannabis be reclassified as a Schedule III drug, which would codify that it has medicinal value and is less dangerous than its current Schedule I designation, Axios has confirmed.
Why it matters: The U.S. cannabis industry needed a win, just days after one of its best-known companies, MedMen, filed for bankruptcy protection.
Venture capital investment in cannabis companies has fallen sharply in the past couple of years, totaling just $550 million in 2023 after hitting $3 billion in 2019 and $2.7 billion in 2021, according...
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