Marijuana Policy Project Reacts With Skepticism To DEA's Proposal To Reschedule Cannabis

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed the rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. This change is pending review by the White House Office of Management and Budget before it can be enacted.

Matthew Schweich, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), a leading cannabis policy reform organization, described the move as a positive yet modest step. "This is a positive step forward for federal cannabis policy, however it is a rather modest step given the strong support among American voters for comprehensive cannabis reform” Schweich said.

Schweich also emphasized the limitations of the DEA’s proposal, noting that it does not alter the criminalization status of medical cannabis patients and recreational users under state laws. He stressed the ongoing need for comprehensive state-level legislation and ballot initiatives to ensure fair and sensible cannabis legalization and medical cannabis laws.

How This Change Came To Be

In August 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) formally recommended the rescheduling of cannabis, based on comprehensive reviews. This recommendation was aimed at reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III controlled substance to enhance research opportunities and lessen the legal burdens on medical cannabis communities.
Expressing disappointment with the current administration, Schweich added, "I'm underwhelmed by the progress made during President Biden's administration, I think it was fair to expect more. It was absurd to consider cannabis to be more dangerous than heroin, as is the case today. Even with the rescheduling, it remains less sensibly categorized than alcohol, Xanax, and Valium."

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There Are "Practical Benefits"

Despite the limitations, MPP acknowledges several practical benefits of rescheduling. These include facilitating research and easing the operational challenges faced by medical cannabis patients, providers, and related businesses.
However, rescheduling alone will not resolve the ongoing conflict between federal and state cannabis laws, nor will it address the broader harms of federal prohibition.