The U.S. Department of Justice is accepting comments on a proposal to move cannabis to a less-restrictive regulatory category.
Cannabis is considered a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act — a category that includes hard drugs without accepted medical uses and high potential for abuse, like heroin. Under a proposal announced in April, cannabis would be moved to Schedule III, where it would be in a class alongside drugs with accepted medical uses and moderate to low potential for dependence, like ketamine and Tylenol with codeine. The change would lighten the tax burden of some cannabis businesses and ease restrictions on cannabis research, although cannabis would still be federally illegal.
The Department of Justice is taking public comments on the change until July 22. As of 11:59 p.m. yesterday, the department had received 6,313 comments. The comments are part of the public record and can be viewed by others.
One comment submitted on May 20 said:
This rule is a horrible idea, this should remain in Schedule I. Marijuana is a gateway drug and ruins lives.
Another comment submitted that day said:
Finally some good legislation. Its time to stop treating using a plant with many medicinal uses as a criminal action. This is good for the USA.
To leave a comment or to read those submitted by others, go to https://www.regulations.gov/document/DEA-2024-0059-0001.
The department is also accepting paper submissions that are postmarked on or by July 22. Paper comments should be submitted to
Drug Enforcement Administration
Attn: DEA Federal Register Representative/DPW
8701 Morrissette Drive
Springfield, Virginia 22152.