(Washington Stand) On Tuesday, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced that it would be reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Experts say the move further confuses the legal status of the drug and does not acknowledge the serious health risks associated with its use that have already been established and continue to come to light.
In calling for the reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule I drug (which includes heroin, LSD, and other powerful psychoactive substances) to a Schedule III drug (which includes steroids, codeine, and ketamine), White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed that the reason behind the move is to further decriminalize the drug, because “no American who only possesses marijuana should go to jail.” But experts say the move won’t have an immediate impact on the criminal justice system. “Put simple, this move from Schedule I to Schedule III is not getting people out of jail,” David Culver, senior vice president of public affairs at the U.S. Cannabis Council, told the Associated Press. (Read More)
