US Health Official Urges Relaxation of Marijuana Restrictions

According to a report by Bloomberg on August 31, a senior official from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has called for the relaxation of restrictions on marijuana in a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The official has recommended reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III substance, and the DEA is initiating a review of the drug.

Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, Rachel Levine, wrote a letter to DEA Administrator, Anne Milgram, suggesting the reclassification of cannabis as a Schedule III substance. Currently classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, alongside highly dangerous substances like heroin and hallucinogens.

According to a report by US cable news network CNN, a spokesperson for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has confirmed in an email statement to CNN that the agency has received a letter from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and is now launching a review.

Statement claims: "We can confirm that the DEA has received a letter from HHS, providing the investigation findings and recommendations regarding marijuana arrangements, as requested by President Biden for review. As part of this process, HHS conducted scientific and medical assessments to be considered by the DEA."sdxz

The statement indicates that the DEA possesses the ultimate authority to schedule or reschedule drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. The DEA will now initiate a review.

According to data from the National State Legislatures Conference, 23 states have legalized adult-use marijuana, while 38 states allow marijuana products for medical purposes. Since Colorado first began selling adult-use marijuana in 2014, the marijuana industry has evolved into a multi-billion dollar market, attracting the attention of multinational corporations in sectors such as alcohol, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and tobacco.