In May of this year, President Biden and his officials formally announced their plans to reschedule cannabis alongside support from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This move made headlines across the country, as it marks the first time in American history that cannabis will be considered a medically beneficial drug with purposeful uses.
Per DEA policy, a change this big requires a public comment period lasting two months before they can officially begin the rescheduling process. The comment period closed last week, and more than 40,000 American citizens and organizations chimed in with their thoughts, setting a record for the most comments the DEA has ever gathered for a proposed regulation change.
The best part? Around 70% of commenters were in support of cannabis. An analysis from Headset revealed that 57% of the public comments advocated for fully de-scheduling cannabis, 35% were in favor of rescheduling it, and a slim 8% margin opposed the reforms, pushing to keep cannabis illegal and classified as a Schedule I substance.
This exciting news highlights the growing support the cannabis movement is accumulating from Americans nationwide. And, with more than half of the comments pushing for decriminalization entirely, it demonstrates that additional change is likely coming down the line in upcoming years.
“These numbers paint a clear picture: over 9 out of 10 individuals who took the time to comment believe that cannabis should not remain a Schedule I substance,” Headset wrote in their report. “Moreover, the majority of commenters went beyond the proposed rescheduling to Schedule III, arguing for complete removal from the controlled substances list. This overwhelming show of public support, equivalent to the unanimous voice of an entire state capital, sends a powerful message to policymakers. It suggests that not only is there broad backing for the proposed rescheduling, but there’s also a significant push for even more comprehensive reform.”
While rescheduling is largely viewed as a favorable step in the right direction, many rightfully believe that it doesn’t address many of the cannabis issues currently plaguing society. It doesn’t automatically grant pardons or record expungement to people with non-violent cannabis charges, it will remain federally illegal, and it does little to help marginalized communities who have been the most heavily impacted by the War on Drugs.
On the side of the opposition, Headset pointed out that the majority of comments came in large surges of form letters from anti-cannabis organizations like Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). These letters cited fears over cannabis as a gateway drug or its potential harm to children, but they were largely overruled by individuals reporting its positive benefits in treating mental and physical health disorders.
These comments are overwhelmingly positive toward cannabis, but the work isn’t over yet. Headset writes, “The rescheduling process involves multiple steps, including a potential hearing phase and a final review by the Office of Management and Budget. Additionally, the DEA must ensure compliance with international treaty obligations, particularly the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.”
Fortunately, the government is highly motivated to get this done before the upcoming election in November, so the DEA may fast-track this process. Public opinion is firmly on the side of cannabis, and it has a fair amount of bipartisan support — something many other hot topics in politics can’t claim. Now that American citizens have made their voices heard, all we can do is wait for the next steps and continue pushing for proper cannabis reform along the way.
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