DEA Rejects Attempt To Loosen Federal Restrictions On Marijuana [View all]

[babylonsister]

Of course they did.

http://www.npr.org/2016/08/10/489509471/dea-rejects-attempt-to-loosen-federal-restrictions-on-marijuana?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20160811


DEA Rejects Attempt To Loosen Federal Restrictions On Marijuana
August 10, 2016 9:30 PM ET
Carrie Johnson


The Obama administration has denied a bid by two Democratic governors to reconsider how it treats marijuana under federal drug control laws, keeping the drug for now, at least, in the most restrictive category for U.S. law enforcement purposes.

Drug Enforcement Administration chief Chuck Rosenberg says the decision is rooted in science. Rosenberg gave "enormous weight" to conclusions by the Food and Drug Administration that marijuana has "no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States," and by some measures, it remains highly vulnerable to abuse as the most commonly used illicit drug across the nation.

"This decision isn't based on danger. This decision is based on whether marijuana, as determined by the FDA, is a safe and effective medicine," he said, "and it's not."

snip//

Tom Angell, chairman of Marijuana Majority, said in a statement that the decision was disappointing.

"President Obama always said he would let science — and not ideology — dictate policy, but in this case his administration is upholding a failed drug war approach instead of looking at real, existing evidence that marijuana has medical value," he wrote.

Most Americans support legalization, Angell wrote, and the federal government should at a minimum leave regulatory decisions to the states.

snip//

Forty-two states and the District of Columbia allow some form of medical marijuana use, but the federal government has not taken that step despite prodding from federal lawmakers. Last month, the Democratic National Committee endorsed the idea of loosening federal restrictions on marijuana and "providing a reasoned platform for future legalization" in its platform.

For now, there remain two ways to change the federal government's classification of marijuana: for a host of federal agencies including the DEA and FDA to sign off; or for Congress to pass a law, and for the president to sign it.

Edit to add comment from Blue Bus Monitor/FB:

"The DEA says their decision is based on the FDA's assertion that Cannabis has no accepted medical use in treatment. Does alcohol have a "currently accepted medical use in treatment"?? Does tobacco have a "currently accepted medical use in treatment"?? What the hell does that have to do with it? We have a RIGHT to use that perfectly harmless herb and whether or not it has a medical use has never mattered about anything else. Why should it be applied as the test for Cannabis?! The DEA is acting on either ignorance or on pressure from the pharmaceutical industry or from the Religious Reich, or all three. Cannabis prohibition won't fully end until we get the big money out of politics."