The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has proposed reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III controlled substance, a major policy shift that began with a directive from President Joe Biden in October 2022. The proposed rule, submitted this week, will undergo a 60-day public comment period before a final decision is made. The move follows a 2023 report from the US Food and Drug Administration recommending the reclassification based on marijuana’s legitimate medical use. While the manufacturing and possession of recreational marijuana would remain illegal under federal law, medical cannabis could be prescribed in states where it is legalized. President Biden stated that the reclassification would remove barriers to critical research.
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DOJ Officially Moves to Reclassify Marijuana as Schedule III
