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Donald Trump is reportedly considering easing federal restrictions on marijuana as early as Monday, and cannabis industry insiders hope he’s not just blowing smoke.
The federal government currently classifies pot as a Schedule I drug, which means it’s considered highly addictive and has no FDA-approved medical use.
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If the rumblings near the White House are true, Trump could issue an executive order that changes the wacky weed’s classification to Schedule III, a distinction given to drugs like steroids that can be accessed with a prescription.
It’s been a long time coming for the bud biz, according to Jason DeLand, co-founder and chair of Dosist, a California-based cannabis wellness brand.
“Look, this is overdue,” DeLand told HuffPost.“Schedule I is supposed to be for substances with high abuse potential and no accepted medical use. Cannabis never fit cleanly in that box, and the medical evidence base — especially around chronic pain as a potential non-opioid tool — has only grown.”
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DeLand stressed that Schedule III “is not federal legalization,” but an important step toward that possibility. “But it’s the biggest near-term lever Washington can pull to strengthen the regulated market and accelerate serious research.”
Sasha Nutgent of the New York-based Housing Works Cannabis