The situation we had was legally ridiculous. States stopped busting people for pot, but at the federal level you could get a year in prison for any amount. So prosecutors at every level could put more pressure for a plea bargain on you by threatening to turn you over to the feds for the joint they found.
What bothers me is marijuana is specifically listed as a schedule 1 substance in the Controlled Substances Act. I don't see how the president can just arbitrarily change that in an EO. It really should be an act of Congress that makes this happen.
mhb2 hours ago[-]
A "hack" he could use would be for him to say that he would pardon anyone prosecuted under that law.
delichon3 hours ago[-]
The Act doesn't freeze the listings in place, it says that the Attorney General or the DEA can follow a process to change a listing. The executive order directs that "the Attorney General shall take all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process… in accordance with Federal law, including 21 U.S.C. 811.”
ursAxZA5 hours ago[-]
If it’s prescribed by medical professionals, that seems reasonable.
At least then effectiveness and risks can be observed in practice, rather than debated abstractly.
cluckindan5 hours ago[-]
Now if they just prescribed LSD, which is already a Schedule III drug.
In that case I think he should retroactively pardon all non violent drug offenders, release them from prison, give them a t-shirt that says "Trump Freed Me", a couple cheeseburgers and take group photos.
What bothers me is marijuana is specifically listed as a schedule 1 substance in the Controlled Substances Act. I don't see how the president can just arbitrarily change that in an EO. It really should be an act of Congress that makes this happen.