U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland officially recommended the White House to ease marijuana regulations. If the White House confirms this, marijuana will be treated as a Tylenol-level drug containing codeine.
The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 30th (local time) that “the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has approved the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommendation to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.”
Earlier on the day, the DEA admitted that the use of marijuana for medical purposes and marijuana has a lower risk of abuse than other dangerous drugs. If the White House confirms the decision through private opinion gathering process, marijuana is classified into three grades: ketamine (anesthetic substance), testosterone (male hormone), and codeine-containing Tylenol. Currently, marijuana is classified into first grade such as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.
Even if this measure is confirmed, marijuana will not be fully legalized at the federal level. Grade 3 drugs are also controlled according to regulations, and trading without permission can result in criminal prosecution at the federal level. However, the punishment is weaker than that of grade 1.
If the federal government lowers its marijuana rating, related sales companies can be listed on major U.S. stock markets. Foreign companies such as Canada, where marijuana is legal, may sell products in the U.S.
Earlier in October 2022, U.S. President Biden ordered relevant ministries, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice, to review marijuana’s drug rating, and HHS recommended the DEA to readjust it to grade 3 in August last year.
Currently, medical marijuana is legalized in 38 states and Washington, D.C. Twenty-four states have also approved the use of marijuana for preference.
“President Biden has been trying to improve racial and criminal justice inequality caused by the war on drugs,” the WP said. “It could be a political victory ahead of his reelection bid in November.”
For patients who need marijuana, it is a good opportunity to receive legal treatment, not illegal. However, there may be people who want to take advantage of it. Rather, the number of addicts may increase. The government needs to come up with a solution to the growing number of addicts.
EJ SONG
US ASIA JOURNAL
