The long-awaited federal marijuana rescheduling hearings officially kicked off Monday, and opening arguments delivered a message cannabis advocates have been making for years: marijuana presents fewer risks than both alcohol and opioids.
During the first day of hearings, attorneys representing the DEA and FDA pointed to evidence showing cannabis has recognized medical benefits and carries a lower risk profile than many substances that are already legally available or prescribed in the U.S.
Federal lawyers highlighted research showing marijuana has significantly lower overdose risks than opioids and far fewer severe public health consequences than alcohol. Testimony also emphasized that cannabis-related fatalities are extremely rare and typically tied to indirect causes rather than overdose.
The hearing centers on whether marijuana should move from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act—a shift that would mark one of the biggest changes in federal cannabis policy in decades.
Supporters say rescheduling would acknowledge what millions of Americans already know: cannabis has medical value and doesn’t belong in the same category as heroin. Opponents continue to push back, questioning the scientific framework behind the move.
For now, one thing is clear: the federal government is openly discussing marijuana in a way that would have been nearly unthinkable just a few years ago.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
