On Tuesday the A.P. reported that the Biden Administration’s Department of Justice plans to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug.
Under federal law, Schedule I drugs are substances with a high risk of abuse and no FDA-approved medical use. Schedule III drugs are substances with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.
Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III substance would not legalize marijuana, but it would put marijuana in the same drug category as anabolic steroids or Tylenol with Codeine. As a rule, Schedule III substances are only available with a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional.
The Biden Administration is expected to accept public comments before issuing a final decision about rescheduling marijuana as a Schedule III substance.
Research has shown time and again that marijuana has a significant potential for dependence and abuse — especially marijuana products that are high in THC. And the FDA has not approved marijuana as a medical treatment for any illness or condition.
With that in mind, it seems inappropriate for the Biden Administration to reclassify marijuana.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
This article has been updated to reflect the fact that rescheduling marijuana would not legalize it, but it would affect the type of regulation to which marijuana is subject.
