In a monumental move for American drug policy, the Justice Department has proposed a new rule that would reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. This proposal still has to be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, but its effects would surely be felt across the country.

Not only does this proposal acknowledge the medical benefits of cannabis, but it also acknowledges that it is less likely to be abused than other Schedule I drugs, such as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. Up until now, marijuana has been classified in the same group as these dangerous drugs. Although this proposal would not federally legalize marijuana for recreational use, it could potentially be a step in that direction.

What Schedule Drug is Marijuana?

Marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I drug since the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1970. The CSA essentially laid the groundwork for the United States’ ongoing battle against drug abuse.In order to reschedule marijuana, the DEA must determine that it has a “currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.” However, since 1992, the DEA has maintained that it will only recognize a drug’s “currently accepted medical use,” if it has been approved by the FDA first or if it passes a five-part test.

Because marijuana has not been approved by the FDA or passed the five-part test, it has remained a Schedule I drug for over 50 years. However, in 2022, President Biden asked the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to initiate an “administrative process to review expeditiously how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.” The following year, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended that the DEA reschedule marijuana to Schedule III. If this new proposal is passed, marijuana could finally be reclassified as a Schedule III drug.

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Lawmakers from both political parties have been pushing for a federal reclassification of marijuana as it has been increasingly decriminalized. A poll from last year showed that 70% of American adults support legalization. Although this proposal wouldn’t legalize recreational marijuana on a federal level, it will reschedule the drug to a class that more accurately depicts its medicinal properties and less dangerous nature.

We will follow this story and provide you with updates as it unfolds. Feel free to follow the blog section of our website to learn more about marijuana and hemp legality. You can also browse our website to find reviews and third-party lab test results for dozens of high-quality hemp products. So the next time you’re shopping for CBD oil, delta-8 gummies, or anything in between, visit Real Tested CBD!