Democratic Senators Push DEA to Downgrade Marijuana Classification

[yuiyoshida]

By KATE O'KEEFFE
Jun 24, 2016 11:45 am ET

A group of Democratic lawmakers is renewing pressure on the Drug Enforcement Administration to remove marijuana from its current position on a list of the most dangerous drugs, a category that includes heroin and ecstasy.

Marijuana’s classification as a “Schedule I” drug is “a main barrier” to research on its potential health benefits and conflicts with a decision by half of the states to approve medical marijuana laws, eight Democratic senators wrote this week in a letter to the DEA and the Department of Justice, its parent agency.

DEA spokesman Russ Baer said in an interview that the agency is in the “final stages” of its deliberation on the issue, and he said a decision on whether to reschedule marijuana is expected “sometime soon.”

Mr. Baer said he did not expect an answer by June 30, however, despite previous guidance from DEA officials that they hoped to make a decision in the first half of the year.

An increasing number of states now allow marijuana to be used for medical purposes, but the drug remains strictly illegal according to U.S. law. The federal government has adopted a practice of not prosecuting those who use marijuana according to their home-state laws.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/06/24/democratic-senators-push-dea-to-downgrade-marijuana-classification/

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yes! pretty please! --yui <3

[RKP5637]

1. Excellent! Putting marijuana on that list was a political ploy, had nothing to do with health

or anything. It was Nixon crap. And was also to decimate the hemp industry.

[Festivito]

8. Yes. Also to stop anti-war movement and stop blacks in general.

These two have their own money trails. Hemp versus cotton is another trail.

As there are money trails against legalizing marijuana in police, courts, prisons, prison suppliers, legal pharmaceuticals, illegal pharmaceuticals, beer and alcohol, cigarettes, drug lords of other drugs, CIA, ... (just off the top of my head).

[RKP5637]

11. The inane drug war in the US is a business. The US feeds that business as quite profitable for

many. And then there is blabber about how people are being helped. It's business propaganda.

[Festivito]

17. Yes again. That the law helps people is fakery and propaganda. eom

[RKP5637]

18. Yep, their idea of help is to throw people in jail, some for years and years for absolutely

minute reasons. And, they make money off the private for profit jail system. It's a totally corrupt system!!!

[MH1]

2. The schedule I status of MJ makes NO sense, until you factor in corruption.

Obviously there's a financial impact to certain large players if MJ is downgraded to a less restrictive schedule, or legalized.

Can't see any other reason it would be schedule I.

[B Calm]

3. K&R

[cojoel]

4. Why isn't the FDA in charge of this?

It would seem to me the DEA should be responsible for enforcing the law, whatever it is, but not setting the specifics of what the law is in terms of scheduling medical value. That should come from the FDA.

In my opinion it ought to be descheduled completely.

[RKP5637]

12. Exactly!! "... it ought to be descheduled completely." n/t

[Tsiyu]

5. Why are Americans being cowards and putting up with a corrupt government that both

holds a PATENT on medical use of cannabis, yet turns around and insists that there is NO medical use?

Why are we such suckers?

FUCK the DEA. They are dragging their feet while sick people continue to suffer, so I say with all heartfelt sincerity (and with the suggestion that a humongous pineapple be employed): FUCK the DEA.

I wish every DEA agent and official could truly, deeply, personally know the sorrow and pain and destruction of lives that they have caused others, and I wish my president was not such a COWARD on this issue.



How does our government hold a goddamned patent on something they say has no patented usage? Can ANYONE explain this to me so that it makes ANY goddamned sense?

[Festivito]

10. Money trails against the smallish money trail of taxing hemp:

Stop anti-war movement and stop blacks in general by allowing arrests of leaders at almost any time of day or night.

These two have their own money trails. Hemp versus cotton is another trail.

As there are money trails against legalizing marijuana in police, courts, prisons, prison suppliers, legal pharmaceuticals, illegal pharmaceuticals, beer and alcohol, cigarettes, drug lords of other drugs, CIA, ... (just off the top of my head).

[Laser102]

6. I am in Colorado now visiting family. Had to laugh at certain sections of Denver that have buildings

with large pot leaves. And yet, crime is down and teens are losing interest in the drug. Legal has a lot to do with that. Colorado is flush with money and the schools and infrastructure benefit from it. Can you imagine if all states went this way? Governor Hickenlooper didn't like the law but has embraced it as results have come in. The sky didn't fall, no one died, and it turns out, the ones buying have always smoked the weed. Now they do it legally.

[yuiyoshida]

7. I think its on the November ballot this year in California

and I hope it passes!

[Nevernose]

29. CA, NV, Mass vote on full legalization

Maine, Arizona definitely voting on decriminalizing small amounts. Signature still being collected and verified for various cannabis-related initiatives (medical, legal, decriminalize) in Michigan, Missouri, Florida, Arkansas, North Dakota, and maybe others I can't recall off the top of my head.

[yuiyoshida]

31. good news.

I will be voting to totally decriminalize it ...California has always been the place for new ways of thinking, I am surprised we didn't do it sooner, but I will be happy if we do! Better late than never.

[Delmette]

34. Montana is giving it another try.

We have medical cannabis, but it is very restricted. There are two ballot items, one to expand medical and one to legalize cannabis.

[RKP5637]

14. Exactly!!! He thought it out. Often far too many think with their mouth blabbering

falsehoods and old tales. He saw the results and embraced them rather than rejecting them.

[sorefeet]

9. Propaganda, ignorance and politics

work hand in hand with each other. Remove the ignorance and it all falls apart. We have an abundance of ignorance.

[RKP5637]

15. Often I think the US should be renamed "United Idiocracy!" n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

13. US Pot Arrests Increased In 2014 With 1 Every 45 Seconds, FBI Data Show

Those 700,993 marijuana arrests and nearly 90 percent of all marijuana arrests in 2014 were attributed solely to possession.

Thanks to the Senatorial signatories:
"Signers of the letters are Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Barbara Boxer of California, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, and Cory Booker of New Jersey."

[RKP5637]

16. It would be interesting to follow the money trail, otherwise, they are clueless. n/t

[midnight]

19. So much research has been done to show the benefits this herb provides. The big Pharma would

lose too much money if they had to compete with this powerful herb….

[arithia]

20. we cannot even research medical effects fully due to prohibition

For decades, there was ONE DUDE who was legally allowed to handle and research the plant. ONE. When he retired, he immediately became an advocate for the plant and for damn good reason.

We now have a handful of researchers who are allowed by the DEA to unravel the mysteries of humanities oldest agricultural crop (technically it was one of the first 3. We don't know if it or two ancient grains were "first".) but it isn't enough. The medical community is begging and pleading for Schedule II just so research can keep pace with the fact that so many are openly using it for medical and recreational purposes.

One or two months don't matter, DEA people. Seriously. You know its safe. A few months more to decide on the schedule won't make it any more safe. Federally sponsored research results keeps coming in and showing that this stuff is less dangerous than alcohol, less dangerous than ciggs, heck- probably less dangerous than TV. Pot isn't addictive. Long term studies show the only real adverse health problem regular use causes is GUM DISEASE.

We can buy ourselves some damn floss, Mr Baer.

In the meantime, I have a mother with Parkinsons Disease who could really use this to treat her tremor and non-existent dopamine levels. Conventional drugs aren't really working for her and her specialist, one of the best in the country, is itching to prescribe it.

[yuiyoshida]

21. I have heard that veterans do want to try it

here in California because medical marijuana is legal, however the Veterans administration is part of the US Government and not allowed to prescribe medical marijuana because its still considered a schedule one drug.

[arithia]

22. Yep, all thanks to reps like Charlie Dent (R-PA)

who are hesitant to let "our tax dollars" go to pay for veterans medical care. Better that our returning wounded warriors be addicted to heavy painkillers for years and struggle with their PTSD than get effective relief at the hands of THC and CBD.

At least docs can legally discuss it as a treatment option now- the gag order was incredibly stupid.

(Also, hi Yui. You've been one of my fave posters for forever and a half. Keep being awesome! <3)

[yuiyoshida]

24. arigatou!

[former9thward]

28. Vets can get a MMJ card in CA.

And use it. No need for the Veterans Administration to prescribe it.

[Calculating]

23. The war on drugs is corruption incarnate

The war on drugs really has almost nothing to do with drugs. It's about revenue collection in the name of civil forfeiture, keeping private prisons stocked, expanding the power of the state and protecting big pharma/alcohol/tobacco. The war on drugs has turned out 4th amendment into toilet paper and created a huge divide between our police and civilians. Over half of the public approve of recreational mj, >80% approve of medicial mj and our government has failed to make ANY meaningful reform on the issue. They can't even figure out if it should be moved from schedule 1 or not. Surely they aren't simply this stupid. They must be worried about negative impacts on their campaign donations or something.

[Qutzupalotl]

25. It's a PLANT, and it's against the law. For existing. A PLANT.

How fucked up are our priorities when we declare nature illegal?

[Calculating]

26. It's particularly funny when religious people think it should be illegal

Banning something that God provided us with? How arrogant can they be?

[Qutzupalotl]

27. Exactly! As though a SWAT team were going to bust down

the pearly gates and drag God off in handcuffs. Arrogance.

[loyalsister]

30. Can Obama influence scheduling vie EO?

It would be a great way to end his presidency!

[yuiyoshida]

32. You are talking about on the federal level?

Idk,

[loyalsister]

33. Yep

If that were the case, I wonder what kinds of regulations states would still have power to enforce?

[SuperDutyTX]

35. Great News!

I sincerely hope they're successful; I can think of almost no logical reason why it's still illegal.

It has generated a ton of tax revenue for Colorado, and is has created quite a booming industry. IMO the only downside is some of the "riff-raff" types (strictly my observation) it has seemingly attracted, but I would imagine if legalized nationally you wouldn't have the same problem with concentration.