During the early hours of this Thursday, April 23, the United States Department of Justice decided to officially reclassify the dope (Cannabis sativa) and classified it as a “less dangerous drug”so this new measure marks an important change in the policy of narcotics of the North American nation.
According to what was stated by the American newspaper The New York Timesthe acting deputy attorney general, Todd Blanchewas the one who changed the classification of products that contain cannabis and that are covered by the Food and Drug Administration either who have received a state medical marijuana license.
For his part, Todd Blanche assured that the American president donald trump ordered his government to begin the process of reclassificationin order to increase access and medical research of marijuana, a mixture of dried leaves, flowers and stems that contains THCa psychoactive compound that alters the mood.
Under the circumstances, although marijuana remains illegal and has a prohibition At the federal level, most US states have legalized the use medical or recreational of the Cannabis sativaso there are currently dozens of stores in the United States where you can legally buy this plant.
Donald Trump’s promises
“The Department of Justice is complying with the promise of the president to expand access to medical treatment options. This reprogramming action allows research into the safety and effectiveness of this substance, provides patients with a better attention and to doctors with reliable information,” added Todd Blanche.
Given this situation, according to the British television network BBConce the change is published in the Federal Register of the United States, they must pass 30 days for it to come into force. During that time, the measure can challenge legally and its implementation can be blocked for months or even two years.
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Likewise, according to the American newspaper Washington PostTodd Blanche’s order comes five days after the republican president signed an executive order aimed at increasing access to psychedelic drugs for medical treatments, specifically for depression, anxiety and mental health disorders.
However, the United States Government has classified marijuana as a substance with a “high potential for abuse” that does not have “no medical use accepted” since January 1970, more than 56 years ago, so, despite the laws that have been enacted to relax the restrictionsthis drug is still illegal.
Cannabis regulations
In February 2021, during the government of the president Joe Bidenthe Democratic president initiated a review of marijuana classification that created a complex mosaic of regulations of the cannabis. However, in accordance with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Trump’s change is “mostly symbolic.”
Despite this, according to the latest report from the television network Telemundomore than two thirds of Americans support full legalization of cannabisso changing the classification of the drug could open the door for policymakers to seriously consider lifting all these restrictions.