President Biden Calls Marijuana Rescheduling Decision 'Monumental'

May 17, 2024

President Biden on rescheduling: "It's an important move toward reversing long-standing inequities." VP Harris: "We are finally changing that." — President Biden on rescheduling: "It’s an important move toward reversing long-standing inequities." VP Harris: "We are finally changing that."

On May 16, President Joe Biden announced the federal reclassification of marijuana from Schedule I (most restrictive) to Schedule III (less restrictive).

He stated:

"This is monumental. Today, my administration took a major step to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule II drug. It's an important move toward reversing long-standing inequities.

"Today's announcement builds on the work we've already done to pardon a record number of federal offenses for simple possession of marijuana. It will actualy lift barriors to housing, employment, small business loans and so much more for tens of thousands of Americans.

"No one should be in jail for merely possessing marijuana, period. Far too many lives have been upended because of a failed approach to marijuana and I'm committed to righting those wrongs. You have my word on it."

Vice President Kamala Harris added:

"Currently, marijuana is classified on the same level as heroin and more dangerous than fentanyl. We are finally changing that. I want to thank all of the advocates and everyone out there for helping to make this possible and we are on the road to getting it done."

President Biden and I vowed to address injustices in marijuana policy.

Today, our Administration takes another major step forward. pic.twitter.com/GxFOFeU0DU
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 16, 2024

Why it's Good News

Marijuana/cannabis has been stigmafied as a dangerous illicit drug in the U.S. for more than a century. This shift in policy has greater significance for mainstream Americans than for advocates who've pushed for desheduling and hence legalization. That will not happen with the move to Schedule III. Instead, Americans will now realize that its government is gradually dismantling the war on weed.

What's Next?

According to Cultivated:

"It will still be some time before rescheduling is official – the proposed rule kicks off a 60-day public comment period. Then, there may be legal challenges before the final decision is made."