United States Federal Government May Reclassify Marijuana, But Legalize It? No. – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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U.S. federal health regulators are proposing that the federal government loosen restrictions on marijuana and instead classify it as a Schedule III drug, putting it in a group with thereapeutic drugs rather than just classifying it as an illegal substance that has no known medical use.

At the present time marijuana is legal in many states, but illegal from the point of view of the federal government. For example passengers arriving on an international flight into an airport in a state that allows marijuana might still be arrested for drug smuggling by US Customs at the airport.

Specifically, the federal Health and Human Services Department has recommended taking marijuana out of a category of drugs deemed to have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” The agency advised moving pot from that “Schedule I” group to the less tightly regulated “Schedule III.”

So what does that mean, and what are the implications? Read on.

First of all, what has actually changed? What happens next?

Technically, nothing yet. Any decision on reclassifying — or “rescheduling,” in government lingo — is up to the Drug Enforcement Administration, which says it will take up the issue. The review process is lengthy and involves taking public comment.

Still, the HHS recommendation is “paradigm-shifting,…