Six Governors Urge Biden to Reschedule Cannabis by Year-End

Move Could Align Government Policy with Public Opinion and Provide Economic Benefits, Despite Opposition

Six governors from Colorado, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Louisiana have urged President Biden to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act by the end of the year.
The move is expected to align government policy with public opinion, where 88% of Americans favor legalization for medical or recreational use.
Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III would alleviate Section 280E restrictions of the Internal Revenue Code, potentially saving cannabis businesses $1.8 billion annually.
The Department of Health and Human Services has recommended rescheduling marijuana as a Schedule III drug, but the DEA, which holds final jurisdiction over the Controlled Substances Act, has the authority to disregard this advice.
Opposition to the rescheduling comes from six former DEA heads, five former White House drug czars, a coalition of GOP senators, and 14 Republican congressional lawmakers.