President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to expedite the reclassification of marijuana – an effort to extend analysis on its medical use however not totally legalize it.
“This reclassification order will make it far easier to conduct marijuana-related medical research, allowing us to study benefits, potential dangers and future treatments,” Trump stated within the Oval Office. “It’s going to have a tremendously positive impact.”
The order — which directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to hasten the method of loosening federal restrictions however doesn’t embrace a timeline, in accordance with senior administration officers — comes after an intensive lobbying marketing campaign from the cannabis industry.
Cannabis is at present thought of a Schedule 1 drug, together with heroin, LSD and ecstasy, which aren’t thought of to have any acceptable medical use, in accordance with the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will finally be reclassified as a Schedule III drug, which, in accordance with the DEA, have “a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”
“The facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications when carefully administered. In some cases, this may include the use as a substitute for addictive and potentially lethal opioid painkillers,” Trump stated, calling the transfer “common sense.”
Trump’s motion doesn’t federally legalize marijuana, although the drug is already authorized in several states. The order doesn’t have an effect on leisure marijuana and doesn’t embrace any prison justice adjustments.
It additionally calls on White House aides to work with Congress to permit entry to “appropriate full-spectrum CBD products,” in accordance with the senior administration officers, and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to analysis broader entry to hemp-derived CBD merchandise.
This is a creating story and will likely be up to date.