United States Government Recommends Easing Cannabis Restrictions
Major News From America on Cannabis Reform
The march towards cannabis legalization in the United States took a giant leap forward recently when the Department of Health and Human Services recommended that the DEA reclassify marijuana by removing it from its current place on the list of America’s most dangerous drugs. Ever since the Nixon Administration founded the DEA and declared “war on drugs”, cannabis has been listed as a “Schedule I” narcotic.
This Reclassification is a Tremendously Important Step
The “Schedule I” designation is reserved for drugs that the DEA designates as having “No currently accepted medical use and a high potential for addiction. Ever since the Controlled Substances Act that founded the DEA, cannabis has been listed in Schedule I with drugs like heroin. Not only does this scheduling allow for harsh punishment, it makes it illegal for there to be scientific studies conducted on cannabis use. That could be about to change.
If the DEA follows through with the recommendation from the HHS, cannabis will be downgraded to a Schedule III controlled substance, which means it has a “low to moderate potential for physical and psychological dependence. Other Schedule III drugs include Tylenol w/Codeine and Anabolic Steroids. Now, G13 Magazine still believes cannabis to be less dangerous than a Schedule III, but this recommendation represents a significant leap forward in federal drug policy.
This Could Open the Floodgates for Cannabis Business
Perhaps more importantly, the Schedule III designation will remove many of the banking prohibitions that make it impossible for financial institutions to do business with cannabis companies. That could lead to an avalanche of new investment into the industry. It will also allow existing entrepreneurs to have access to traditional banking services. That means they will be able to apply for traditional loans and raise capital much more easily.
To be certain, this isn’t legalization, or even close to it. However, the federal government has finally taken notice of the fact that more than half of the states in America have legalized cannabis. More importantly, this move signals that health officials with the federal government realizes that cannabis should never have been classified as a Schedule I narcotic; especially not when heavily addictive drugs like cocaine, Oxycontin, methamphetamine and Vicodin were listed as “less addictive” schedule II narcotics.
Will the Drug Enforcement Administration Comply?
The only thing that remains to be seen is how the Drug Enforcement Administration will react. It is still up to them to approve or disapprove the rescheduling recommendation, a decision that is expected next year. G13 Magazine will keep an eye on this space and keep you posted. But make no mistake, this is a big day for cannabis reformers all over the world.
G13 Club is a private social club for medical and recreational cannabis users based in Barcelona. It is also a space for musical and artistic development that promotes a multitude of activities focused on the expression and exhibition of urban, hip hop, reggae and skate culture.
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