US authorities may revise their classification of marijuana

Senate leaders applauded the delivery of a marijuana policy proposal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the Drug Enforcement Administration on Wednesday as a first step toward reducing federal restrictions on the drug.

Criminal sanctions for possession would be lessened or even eliminated if the drug were rescheduled. Along with heroin and LSD, marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule I substance.

Schedule I drugs, in the words of the DEA, "have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse."

Drugs listed in Schedule III "have a potential for abuse less than substances listed in Schedules I or II, and abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence." Currently, these include several anabolic steroids and ketamine.

As he forgave thousands of Americans found guilty under federal statute of "simple possession" of marijuana in October 2022, Biden asked for the study.