So close to schedule III I can smell it
As many people may or may not know, cannabis has been a schedule I substance since 1971. For everyone who didn’t do the math, thats about fourty six years! According to the current schedule cannabis is as dangerous as heroin and lsd. Cannabis is even scheduled higher than cocaine and methamphetamines. Just think about that for a second. Cannabis has never killed anyone, yet its as dangerous as the most deadly substances.
The bill I’m speaking of is House Bill 2020. It was introduced by two Florida congressmen by the names of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) and Rep. Darren Soto (D). Surprising to read, huh? Both a democrat and republican actually agreeing on something! If it passes, it will finally make cannabis a schedule III substance. While I dont think it should be scheduled at all, schedule III is definitely an improvement over schedule I.
Upon introducing the bill Rep Matt Gaetz had to say, “I have supported cannabis reform as a state legislator, and I want to see the people that I fought for in my state have access to a legal, high-quality product that’s been well-researched. It’s a modest step forward to try to find the most possible common ground. This drug should not be in the same category as heroin and LSD, and we do not need to continue with a policy that turns thousands of young people into felons every year. Nor do we need to punish the millions of people who are sick and seeking medical help – from pain, from muscle wasting, from chemotherapy-induced nausea.”
Problems with the legal status
We think we know a lot about cannabis, but the legal status of cannabis restricts most research. If cannabis was rescheduled earlier than maybe we would know infinitely more about all the cannabis plant has to offer. There is no time like the present, so if we this bill passes we may learn a LOT of new information. There are also issues with the legality status and any related banking. Any banking that has to do with a schedule I substance is a no go. With the rescheduling it would allow for the relaxation of the banking laws.
I can only hope for the sake of everyone, that this bill is passed into law and we can finally treat cannabis almost as good as it deserves to be treated.
