Cannabis Rescheduled from Schedule I to Schedule III Today

As of today, the US Dept. of Justice moved “…the classifications of products containing marijuana that are covered by the Food and Drug Administration or that have received a state medical-marijuana licence” from Schedule I to Schedule III.

This is not exactly the same as reclassifying all marijuana, although it looks like that is being considered as the next step. Marijuana itself is still illegal at the Federal level. And today’s current change in classification could also be legally challenged in the next 30 days.

It’s important to point out that today’s DOJ action is not the same as “full federal legislation” of marijuana. That would mean de-scheduling it altogether.

You can find out more about the legal consequences of today’s action at congress.gov. For example, “With respect to the manufacture, distribution, and possession of recreational marijuana, if marijuana were moved to Schedule III, such activities would remain illegal under federal law and potentially subject to federal prosecution regardless of their status under state law.”

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Author: James Amos

I'm a retired consult-liaison psychiatrist. I navigated the path in a phased retirement program through the hospital where I was employed. I was fully retired as of June 30, 2020. This blog chronicles my journey.

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