75 votes

US drug control agency will move to reclassify marijuana in a historic shift, AP sources say

24 comments

  1. [17]
    teaearlgraycold
    Link
    I’m gonna be honest, they really should have announced this 10 days ago. Maybe that was the plan and it got caught up in some bureaucracy? As someone in a state where it’s already fully legal this...

    I’m gonna be honest, they really should have announced this 10 days ago. Maybe that was the plan and it got caught up in some bureaucracy?

    As someone in a state where it’s already fully legal this news doesn’t have much of an impact. But it’s interesting to see how things have changed nationwide in the last 15 years.

    19 votes
    1. [8]
      vord
      Link Parent
      One word: Banking. Your local pot shop will have a lot less trouble interacting with regular banks now.

      One word: Banking.

      Your local pot shop will have a lot less trouble interacting with regular banks now.

      27 votes
      1. [6]
        stu2b50
        Link Parent
        I’m not sure it’ll be that much less. Banks are still going to loathe to take weed shop money. Moving to schedule III only means that medical marijuana is legal, and that’s only if the shop...

        I’m not sure it’ll be that much less. Banks are still going to loathe to take weed shop money. Moving to schedule III only means that medical marijuana is legal, and that’s only if the shop actually acquires a license from the DEA - all medical marijuana sales now would still be illegal.

        Let’s be honest, a majority of a dispensaries sales are not medical, not even close.

        9 votes
        1. [3]
          vord
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          You'd be surprised. For $200 and just about any fairly common ailment you can get a doctor-issued card that takes about $5/g off the price. That adds up for even a light user. But also, putting it...

          Let’s be honest, a majority of a dispensaries sales are not medical, not even close.

          You'd be surprised. For $200 and just about any fairly common ailment you can get a doctor-issued card that takes about $5/g off the price. That adds up for even a light user.

          But also, putting it in schedule III puts it alongside suboxone, rather than methadone (Schedule II), or Heroin.

          Also, there's potential tax savings at play:

          That’s because of an Internal Revenue Services rule prevents businesses that “traffick” in Schedule I or II substances from deducting regular businesses expenses from their federal taxes. If marijuana moves to Schedule III, those businesses would be able to deduct expenses on federal taxes.

          5 votes
          1. [2]
            stu2b50
            Link Parent
            That doesn’t really change things. It’s not about 5% medical sales vs 20% vs 50%. If even 1% of your sales are illegal recreational cannabis your entire revenue stream is dirty and no back will...

            That doesn’t really change things. It’s not about 5% medical sales vs 20% vs 50%. If even 1% of your sales are illegal recreational cannabis your entire revenue stream is dirty and no back will touch it with a 10 ft pole.

            2 votes
            1. vord
              Link Parent
              See an edit i made with more detail a moment ago. Schedule III is a lot less dirty than Schedule I. And some banks have been known to engage in far riskier behavior. Especially in states like PA...

              See an edit i made with more detail a moment ago.

              Schedule III is a lot less dirty than Schedule I. And some banks have been known to engage in far riskier behavior.

              Especially in states like PA where there is only medical. That puts them on par with other drug companies in terms of risk.

              7 votes
        2. [2]
          NomadicCoder
          Link Parent
          And I’m concerned that the FDA is going to want to get involved too. I’m afraid that schedule III is going to make access harder for those who need it, not easier. They should treat it like...

          And I’m concerned that the FDA is going to want to get involved too. I’m afraid that schedule III is going to make access harder for those who need it, not easier. They should treat it like alcohol, which causes more harm to both users and those around them.

          1 vote
          1. vord
            Link Parent
            I'm all for FDA rules. NJ mandates testing and labelling, and I can tell at a glance if a given strain is going to give me trouble or help. It'd be nice to have a consistent standard. That said, I...

            I'm all for FDA rules. NJ mandates testing and labelling, and I can tell at a glance if a given strain is going to give me trouble or help. It'd be nice to have a consistent standard.

            That said, I agree that for recreational use, it should be treated like alcohol and not pharma. Though then your talking purvue of ATF, and that's not better.

            7 votes
      2. Eji1700
        Link Parent
        Yep. Going to be interesting because right now there's a lot of overhead as they, mostly, have to use either crypto (stables i'd assume) or physical vaults (that they secure). Being able to just...

        Yep. Going to be interesting because right now there's a lot of overhead as they, mostly, have to use either crypto (stables i'd assume) or physical vaults (that they secure).

        Being able to just integrate with the banking system is going to cut out so many frictions points. Prices might go down.

        4 votes
    2. [8]
      MaoZedongers
      Link Parent
      Hopefully this will lead to federal legalization, since some federal docs will still ask if you're a marijuana user as a disqualifier, and I believe lying on them is a criminal offense, if not a...

      Hopefully this will lead to federal legalization, since some federal docs will still ask if you're a marijuana user as a disqualifier, and I believe lying on them is a criminal offense, if not a felony itself.

      6 votes
      1. [7]
        JCPhoenix
        Link Parent
        I hope so, but it'll probably be awhile since only Congress can remove marijuana from the schedule. I recently went through a federal background investigation. I admitted past usage, and they were...

        I hope so, but it'll probably be awhile since only Congress can remove marijuana from the schedule.

        I recently went through a federal background investigation. I admitted past usage, and they were fine with that, but it's still annoying that weed could get me fired and my clearance pulled if I did want to partake, even if it were for medical purposes. Weed is medically and recreationally legal in my state, but I can't have it. It's NBD, I'm not jonesing for it as it been like 3-4yrs since last consumption, but it's still annoying.

        7 votes
        1. tanglisha
          Link Parent
          I don't know how much, but this is actually effecting the security of the country. Many technical security professionals (hackers) are unwilling to get a clearance because they either want or need...

          I don't know how much, but this is actually effecting the security of the country. Many technical security professionals (hackers) are unwilling to get a clearance because they either want or need to use pot.

          I doubt there will be a rush if it's changed, but it will make a viable option where it wasn't before for some people.

          4 votes
        2. [5]
          nukeman
          Link Parent
          Aside: I didn’t realize there was another active clearance-holder here. I thought I was the only one!

          Aside: I didn’t realize there was another active clearance-holder here. I thought I was the only one!

          2 votes
          1. [2]
            F13
            Link Parent
            Hypothetically, if I held a clearance, and I followed the general best practices that are drilled into you when you get one and work in a place that uses them, I probably wouldn't go saying so on...

            Hypothetically, if I held a clearance, and I followed the general best practices that are drilled into you when you get one and work in a place that uses them, I probably wouldn't go saying so on the internet.

            Hypothetically.

            10 votes
            1. nukeman
              Link Parent
              Touché. I do limit my discussions on clearance-related topics to a small number of places, including here. I find that it can be illuminating for others having someone who has one explain the...

              Touché. I do limit my discussions on clearance-related topics to a small number of places, including here. I find that it can be illuminating for others having someone who has one explain the process and the philosophy of classification.

              4 votes
          2. updawg
            Link Parent
            Perhaps some people just aren't as open about it...

            Perhaps some people just aren't as open about it...

            2 votes
          3. JCPhoenix
            Link Parent
            Well, I have my clearance, but I'm not yet using it! I think I'm waiting on some kind of reciprocity thing. Like my clearance has to transfer to the dept/agency I'll be working for. And it's...

            Well, I have my clearance, but I'm not yet using it! I think I'm waiting on some kind of reciprocity thing. Like my clearance has to transfer to the dept/agency I'll be working for. And it's taking forever. I got offered the job in June and did all the clearance stuff in the fall. First time working for the government. And already I'm seeing government inaction. Sorry, I meant government in action, haha.

            2 votes
  2. Notcoffeetable
    Link
    Great! LSD should be moved too but the politicians aren't ready for it.

    Great! LSD should be moved too but the politicians aren't ready for it.

    11 votes
  3. Eji1700
    Link
    About time. I have always felt one of the most damming indictments of the dems sincere effort towards policies has been weed. Sure go ahead and campaign on "i only inhaled, wink wink nudge nudge...

    About time. I have always felt one of the most damming indictments of the dems sincere effort towards policies has been weed.

    Sure go ahead and campaign on "i only inhaled, wink wink nudge nudge aren't i just one of you", and then always magically find excuses to not actually change the OBSCENE over classification of the drug and the horrible effects that's had on our legal/prison system.

    Frankly I'm happy to see this happening now as I would've gladly bet money it wouldn't happen until biden was re-elected given how often they've held this hostage as a "you better vote for us" issue.

    9 votes
  4. [4]
    TommyTenToes
    Link
    What perhaps annoys me the most out of all of this is that even after federal legalization employers will likely still have the right to discriminate based on drugs tests. Because of this, we...

    What perhaps annoys me the most out of all of this is that even after federal legalization employers will likely still have the right to discriminate based on drugs tests. Because of this, we might see an increase in drug testing as a result of legalization.

    There are definitely situations where I support testing (heavy machinery, surgeons, etc.) but I would love to see legal protections limiting the scope of testing to active metabolites instead of any cannabinoid.

    While we're at it, what annoys me the second most is that it seems like black market weed is maintaining an advantage to legal weed in several states. In places like Chicago, the price difference is so extreme that it's much more economical to buy from the black market or even drive to Michigan to buy in bulk. At this point, these poorly implemented state level measures are what we'll be stuck with even if it's legalized federally.

    3 votes
    1. ShroudedScribe
      Link Parent
      They really need to determine another way to test. Some type of motor skills test would probably be best (assuming the individual does not have a disability that would interfere with).

      They really need to determine another way to test. Some type of motor skills test would probably be best (assuming the individual does not have a disability that would interfere with).

      3 votes
    2. [2]
      Eji1700
      Link Parent
      Yeah it’s an endless pile of bs that they can just drug test someone whenever something goes wrong and then just hope they fail a drug test because they had weed 20 hours ago

      Yeah it’s an endless pile of bs that they can just drug test someone whenever something goes wrong and then just hope they fail a drug test because they had weed 20 hours ago

      2 votes
  5. [2]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. nukeman
      Link Parent
      Legalization (or even decriminalization) can only be done with an act of Congress. Rescheduling can be done within the Executive Branch. As for timeframe, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if he...

      Legalization (or even decriminalization) can only be done with an act of Congress. Rescheduling can be done within the Executive Branch. As for timeframe, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if he made sure when he started it that it would go into effect during election season, but I also believe his administration wants to cross its Ts and dot its Is to make prevent/minimize any challenges to the rescheduling.

      8 votes