The Department of Justice is reportedly preparing to significantly loosen federal cannabis restrictions, marking the biggest shift in drug laws in more than half a century.
The DOJ’s decision was first reported by the Associated Press, and confirmed to Politico by an administration official familiar with the matter who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. That official stressed the move is not yet a done deal, but confirmed the process is heading toward a reclassification.
Cannabis is currently a schedule I drug on the Controlled Substances Act — the most severe classification. The DOJ decision would reportedly move cannabis to schedule III, which means it’s determined to have some medical benefits, as well as some potential for abuse.
The scheduling change does not impact criminal penalties around cannabis, which continues to be federally illegal.
