Overview

• The Biden administration intends to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I, denoting high abuse potential and no medical benefit, to Schedule III, which allows for medical research and lower penalties.
• Senate Democrats have reintroduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, aiming for full legalization and a regulatory framework similar to alcohol and tobacco.
• Critics argue the rescheduling reflects election-year politics more than scientific consensus, with concerns about increased public health risks.
• The DEA faces internal opposition and health concerns about high-potency marijuana strains, complicating the rescheduling process.
• Federal law enforcement priorities have shifted, focusing less on low-level cannabis offenses amid a severe fentanyl crisis.