This story appeared in The Logoffa daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news rule your life. Register here.
Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration is loosening restrictions on medical marijuana.
What changed? On Thursday, the Justice Department announced that state-approved medical marijuana and Food and Drug Administration-approved marijuana-containing products will now fall under Schedule III, rather than Schedule I, of the Controlled Substances Act.
It sounds technical, but it’s a big change: As a Schedule I drug, marijuana has joined heroin, and is considered by the federal government to have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
Schedule III action recognizes medical marijuana as a low-risk drug and opens up new possibilities for medical and therapeutic research, and has tax implications for the medical marijuana business.
What about recreational marijuana? Nothing has changed yet, but it is in the works. In a press release, the DOJ said it will “expedite” the process of “fully” rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III, with a new hearing scheduled for late June.
What is the context? Efforts to reform marijuana are bipartisan, but slow-moving. President Joe Biden took what he described as a “major” step toward reinstating the drug in 2024but ultimately he did not complete the process before leaving office. He also pardoned anyone convicted of possession of marijuana under federal law earlier in his presidency.
Last year, Trump also signed an executive order directing the DOJ to increase its efforts to reclassify marijuana.
Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia have already legalized medical marijuana to some extent, according to AP – Idaho and Kansas are exceptions – while 24 states and DC have legalized it for recreational use. Medical and recreational marijuana remains federally illegal.
And so, it’s time to leave…
Bruce is a kea – a type of parrot found only in New Zealand – with a badly deformed beak. As the New York Times reports, not only was he able to deal with the disability by using pebbles to straighten his fur, but he has become the dominant male gazelle at New Zealand’s Willowbank Wildlife Sanctuary. You can read his full story here is the giveaway link.
Have a good evening, and we’ll see you here tomorrow!
