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submitted 8 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday called on the federal government to move “as quickly as possible” to change the way it officially classifies marijuana, saying that “nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed.”

“I cannot emphasize enough that they need to get to it as quickly as possible,” Harris said. “We need to have a resolution based on their findings and their assessment. This issue is stark when one considers the fact that on the schedule currently, marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin ― as dangerous as heroin ― and more dangerous than fentanyl, which is absurd, not to mention patently unfair.”

Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule 1 drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration. That classification designates it one of the most dangerous drugs possible, with no medicinal uses. Other substances in the same category include heroin, ecstasy and LSD. Marijuana advocates have been pushing for years for the federal government to either reschedule marijuana to a different category or deschedule it entirely.

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[-] GBU_28@lemm.ee 61 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

As an AG, it was her role to uphold the law and bring forward prosecutions.

I'm recognizing positive change, which is an option now with her new role

Edit I'll also acknowledge it's an election year and this is a popular topic TOO

[-] roguetrick@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

As an AG it's her role to use discretion in bringing forward cases based on her interpretation of her mandate. That's why it's a political position.

[-] Manos@lemm.ee -3 points 8 months ago

They campaigned on this 4 years ago. They've done plenty of good things, but this one turned out out to be an empty promise.

[-] june@lemmy.world 29 points 8 months ago

Yea just ignore that Biden directed the relevant federal agencies to get this done and the HHS has already made the recommendation to move it to schedule 3.

Oh and damn, look at this: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahsinclair/2024/01/18/dea-considers-rescheduling-cannabis-what-this-means-for-us-and-global-reform/?sh=2ce8efef743f

The gears are still moving and the DEA, the agency with the final say according to the legal framework within the controlled substances act, is working on it with the executive branch is actively pushing to have it reclassified.

It’s almost like a bunch of you who are making brand new accounts to make these posts about broken campaign processes have no fucking clue what you’re talking about because, at the very least, you’re not paying any fucking attention.

[-] GBU_28@lemm.ee -4 points 8 months ago

A campaign promise is very different than a statement from a sitting official.

This is not an excuse for it not being descheduled yet.

this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2024
857 points (98.1% liked)

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