to reclassify marijuana. (yesterday) Two high-ranking Democratic congressman have sent letters to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram and Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting that they take "swift action" to finalize a rule moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (R-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, also ask DOJ and HHS to consider whether placing marijuana under a Schedule IV or Schedule V designation -- and even descheduling entirely -- would be appropriate.
The letter also noted the U.S. FDA's recommendation that marijuana should be moved to Schedule III, which the National Institute on Drug Abuse agreed with. Also, they said HHS determined that cannabis has less abuse potential than other substances in Schedule I and Schedule II, and "has an accepted medical use in treatment."
Schedule III drugs, according to the DEA, have "a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence." They include drugs such as Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.
Schedule IV drugs have "a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence" and include Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and Ambien. Schedule V drugs are those with a lower risk of abuse than Schedule IV and include Robitussin AC (contains codeine), Lomotil, and Lyrica