August 9, 2024 2:50 a.m.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has announced that he and six other senators have sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Drug Enforcement Administrator Anne Milgram, expressing their strong support for the DEA’s proposal to transfer marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.

Wyden’s release said under the DEA, Schedule I drugs are classified as substances with a high potential for abuse, such as heroin or LSD, and they are not accepted for medical use. In contrast, Schedule III drugs have moderate to low potential for abuse, such as testosterone or Tylenol with codeine.

The senators letter said, “The proposed rule to reclassify marijuana to schedule III recognizes the medical benefits of marijuana, will improve access for studying the health effects of short and long-term cannabis use, and will provide relief to cannabis businesses that continue to navigate a patchwork regulatory system to conduct legal business”

Health and Human Services conducted a two-part inquiry to consider the Current Accepted Medical Use of marijuana and concluded it has been accepted to treat pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, among other ailments, without posing what were termed, “unacceptably high safety risks”.

The release said the senators also emphasized the need to pass comprehensive legislation to fully end federal prohibition and establish a federal regulatory framework that prioritizes restorative justice and public health.

To read the full text of the letter, go to: https://www.booker.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/booker_cannabis_rescheduling_letter.pdf