California Attorney General Rob Bonta came out in support of the Department of Health and Human Services’ call on the Drug Enforcement Administration to move cannabis to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. 

Bonta joined a chorus of 12 other Attorney Generals from around the nation late last week. The baker’s dozen sent a letter to the feds supporting the current efforts to reschedule and recognize both the medical and research value cannabis offers. Specifically, the letter calls on the DEA to stop treating cannabis like a highly addictive drug with zero medical value. 

The AGs also noted that the change would allow businesses in 38 states to take tax exemptions and expand the safety and efficacy of Medical Cannabis. 

“The undersigned state Attorneys General appreciate the Administration’s “expeditious” scheduling review process for the proper placement of cannabis1 within the Controlled Substances Act,” the AGs told DEA Administrator Anne Milligan, “The undersigned, representing 12 state-regulated cannabis marketplaces, are encouraged to see the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) to move cannabis to Schedule III, in the interest of public health and safety. For these reasons, we encourage the DEA to implement a final rule rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III based on the Federal Drug Administration’s scientific and medical conclusions. We see this as a public safety imperative and write in support of this policy change.”

The AGs noted their duty was to protect the consumers and defend public safety. They listed things like weird hemp knockoffs that skirt the law, the illicit market, and the rise in dangerous opioids among their chief concerns. 

“State-sanctioned cannabis markets provide access to regulated products that are clearly safer to what individuals can buy on the street—and supporting the effective operation of these regulated markets thus fits with our commitment to addressing the opioid crisis and rising overdose deaths,” The letter read. 

It’s wild to see 13 Attorney Generals sign on to the letter with this kind of language only a decade after the first legalization initiatives were implemented, but who could have imagined nearly half the states in the country, 24, would be allowing recreational use for responsible adults over the age of 21. 

Of those who signed onto the letter, it’s hard to imagine any of them have been championing cannabis reforms for as long as Bonta. Before moving on to be the state’s Attorney General, he was a champion for cannabis reform during his nearly decade representing California’s 18th district. 

He certainly still sounded like that guy in a statement that he released alongside the letter. 

“Dozens of states have now either legalized cannabis or allowed for its medical use. It is high time the federal government reschedule this controlled substance to allow for medical use, open avenues for research opportunities, and provide legitimate businesses with recognition by the IRS,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Currently the federal government’s classification considers cannabis as equally dangerous and addictive as heroin or ecstasy; this is simply not the reality. 

Bonta went on to argue there is ample evidence and data to support that cannabis has legitimate medical uses, and its current classification creates barriers for states that have legalized its use and regulated sale. 

“I commend the Biden Administration for their efforts to request this evaluation and urge the DEA to approve this change to allow legitimate cannabis businesses to thrive and states to better protect the legal market,” Bonta said before noting primary impacts he believed would come out of a move to Schedule III. 

They are first, lowering the tax burden placed on the industry by allowing it normal federal deductions. Next is making it easier for consumers to get public housing, and visas, and legally obtain firearms. Finally, the more legal weed is, the less lucrative it is to the underground market, which will help stabilize state markets. 



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