President Biden Makes an Encouraging Announcement on Marijuana

Jeffrey A. SingerPresident Bidenannounced today that he is pardoning anyone convicted of federal crimes for simple possession of marijuana. The vast majority of such convictions happen at the state level. Therefore, the president asked states to consider pardoning their offenders.He also ordered the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expedite a review of possibly rescheduling marijuana under theControlled Substances Act (CSA). Under the CSA, the Department of HHS, the Drug Enforcement Administration, or a petition from any interested party can start theprocess of rescheduling or de ‐​scheduling a drug. The DEA currentlyclassifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug:Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Some examples of Schedule I drugs are: heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4 ‑methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote.From the standpoint of medical science, the DEA can ’t claim any of the above examples have “currently no accepted medical use” with a straight face. Marijuana (cannabis) has been used medically for centuries and was beingprescribed for such ailments as migraines right up until Congress effectively banned it in 1937. Sir William Osler, the “father of modern medicine” was one of the leadingproponents of treating migraines with cannabis. Of...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs