The air is thick with the scent of change, my friends. The federal leviathan, in its infinite wisdom, appears to be teetering on the precipice of reclassifying our beloved Mary Jane. This isn’t some half-baked rumor, mind you. This is coming straight from the horse’s mouth, or rather, the mouths of unnamed sources who’ve been whispering sweet nothings to the Associated Press.
Now, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill bureaucratic shuffle. No, this is a seismic shift, a tectonic realignment of the very bedrock of our nation’s drug policy. For decades, cannabis has been lumped in with the likes of heroin and cocaine, classified as a Schedule I substance. But now, it seems the powers that be are finally waking up to the absurdity of it all.
Ben Zachs, president of Fine Fettle, called the news “exciting.” “It’s a landmark shift in what we’ve known for a long time, which is that to put cannabis on the same level as heroin and cocaine is an affront to every single person who’s using this medicinally and recreationally,” he said.
The DEA, it seems, is poised to reclassify cannabis to Schedule III. This would put it on par with substances like ketamine and some anabolic steroids. But don’t start celebrating just yet. This shift still needs the green light from the White House Office of Management and Budget. Luckily, President Joe Biden seems to be on board.
“Criminal records for marijuana use and possession have imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities,” Biden said last year. “Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs.”
This reclassification could have far-reaching implications for research, taxes, pharmaceuticals, and banking. With large banking institutions concerned about its illegality, cannabis transactions have been limited to cash and debit. But that could change soon.
Or. It could all be the perfect storm.
So, there you have it. The winds of change are blowing, and they carry with them the sweet scent of cannabis. But remember, this is just the beginning. The road to full legalization is long and fraught with peril. But for now, let’s savor this small victory.
H/T:
stamfordadvocate.com
apnews.com
cannabisbusinesstimes.com
ctinsider.com
Keep it weird people,
