On Thursday the Biden Administration’s Justice Department announced plans to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug — putting it in the same category as anabolic steroids or Tylenol with Codeine.
This move comes despite growing evidence of marijuana’s serious — and permanent — impact on physical and mental health.
A body of scientific evidence reveals that marijuana is harmful — especially for teens and young adults.
Nationwide, since 2019, the number of kids diagnosed with cannabis-induced mental disorders, including schizophrenia and psychotic episodes, has increased by 50%.
And research has shown time and again that marijuana has a significant potential for dependence and abuse.
Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III substance is more than just bureaucratic tinkering. It may not legalize marijuana outright, but to many people it represents some sort of endorsement of marijuana — making it more accessible and acceptable.
Christians understand that human beings were made for a higher purpose than getting high, and scientific evidence continues to underscore the harm that marijuana causes to individuals, families, and communities.
While the Biden Administration is working to unilaterally reclassify marijuana, the group Arkansans for Patient Access is campaigning to pass a constitutional amendment drastically expanding Arkansas’ medical marijuana laws to enable recreational marijuana statewide.
The amendment does not place any limits on the amount of THC that marijuana products and edibles can contain.
If passed, the amendment would guarantee marijuana growers and sellers a monopoly over the state’s marijuana industry.
The amendment would give free marijuana cards to immigrants and out-of-state residents who come to Arkansas.
Marijuana users would no longer need to show they suffer from a specific medical condition listed in state law. People would be able to grow and use marijuana at home.
The amendment also repeals restrictions on marijuana advertising.
All of this would lead to more marijuana in Arkansas.
Arkansas voters rejected marijuana legalization at the ballot box in 2022. That amendment was opposed by a broad coalition of churches, business groups, elected officials, and citizens who knew that marijuana would be bad for Arkansas. We anticipate similar opposition to the 2024 marijuana amendment.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
