Pot Could Soon Be Legal On The Federal Side? It’s Possible

It won't legalize pot on the federal level but it's a step in that direction. The Biden administration is proposing a big change to the way federal government classifies marijuana currently labeled as dangerous as some of the most addictive substances available.

A RE-CLASSIFICATION WOULD MEAN THE GOVERNMENT WOULDN'T CONSIDER POT AS DANGEROUS AS A SCHEDULE I DRUG

The change would re-categorize pot under the Controlled Substances Act and the government wouldn't consider the drug as dangerous as heroin. According to the Associated Press the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will now hear from the public to re-categorize pot under the Controlled Substances Act from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug.

THE RE-CLASSIFICATION WOULDN'T LEGALIZE POT ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL

The move by the administration would not legalize pot in the federal government but only reclassify the drug. The reclassification could allow marijuana to be prescribed as a medication. By the way, pot has been labeled as schedule I since 1970. It's a move that many hope will eventually lead to full federal legalization.

LAWMAKERS HAVE RE-INTRODUCED A BILL TO MAKE POT FEDERALLY LEGAL

Currently 24 states and Washington D.C. allow legal marijuana and 14 states allow it for medical use. But the day after the announcement by the Biden administration about reclassifying marijuana on the federal level lawmakers reintroduced a bill to end the federal prohibition. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Ron Wyden and Cory Booker are sponsoring the Cannabis and Opportunity Act.

LEGALIZATION ON THE FEDERAL SIDE WOULD MEAN A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD BE RELEASED FROM PRISON

It would eliminate the federal prohibition on cannabis. Under the proposal states would be allowed to create their own cannabis laws, federal regulation would protect public health and safety and people convicted of federal non-violent cannabis offenses would have those convictions automatically expunged.