MSOS - 12 State Attorneys General To DEA: Reschedule Marijuana To 'Defend Public Safety' Cannabis Stocks Jump | Benzinga
In a major development in the ongoing debate over marijuana policy, 12 Democratic state attorneys general have formally requested the Drug Enforcement Administration to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.
This reclassification, long sought by advocates and recommended to the DEA by the Dept of Health and Human Services, would significantly loosen federal restrictions on the plant.
The letter, spearheaded by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and sent to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram on Friday, emphasizes public safety concerns as a key motivator.
The officials argue that legal, state-regulated cannabis markets offer safer products and provide a crucial bulwark against the dangers of the illicit market and unregulated hemp products. They also reference states like Colorado, where legal marijuana sales have coincided with a dramatic decline in tobacco use.
"As state attorneys general, we have a responsibility to protect consumers and defend public safety,” they said.
"State-sanctioned cannabis markets provide access to regulated products ...