HHS releases letter recommending cannabis reschedule

Posted on January 14th, 2024 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , .

cannabisA series of documents from US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) officials published Jan. 12 make clear the department's recommendation that cannabis be reclassified to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, allowing cannabis to be prescribed by medical professionals. Officials wrote that the basis for the recommendation is the "currently accepted medical use" of the plant.

The recommendation from HHS was sent by way of a letter to Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) director Anne Milligram, and it is the DEA that will make the final decision on the issue, subject to the approval of President Joe Biden.

Currently classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, cannabis is considered under federal law to have no permitted uses. Despite that status, several states throughout the US have adopted some form of cannabis legalization—either medical or adult-use programs.

The documents were provided via a FOIA request to lawyer Matt Zorn, following a legal battle. Zorn, who posted the documents via his blog "On Drugs," said he claimed "100% credit" for forcing the release of the files for public inspection. 

MarijuanaMoment reported that release of a decision from the DEA is imminent, which could place pressure on the Biden administration to expedite plans to federally legalize cannabis, in some form, during the 2024 election campaign.

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DEA accepts HHS recommendation to reschedule cannabis

Global Ganja Report's picture For the first time, the Drug Enforcement Administration has called for "botanical cannabis" to be reclassified under federal law. The DEA's decision to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act comes eight months after the US Department of Health & Human Services initially advocated for the change. (AP)
Comment by Global Ganja Report on Apr 30th, 2024 at 10:38 pm

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Global Ganja Report's picture Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and a coalition of other Democratic senators have officially reintroduced a bill to federally legalize marijuana.

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Comment by Global Ganja Report on May 2nd, 2024 at 10:54 pm

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Comment by Global Ganja Report on May 17th, 2024 at 1:52 pm

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Global Ganja Report's picture The Justice Department has published a proposed rule in the US Federal Register to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act. (NORML)
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