Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has joined the chorus of voices advocating for the rescheduling of marijuana. His recent letter to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram is packed with compelling arguments and statistics, all pointing toward a singular goal— rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
The Push for Rescheduling
Governor Beshear states that rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III is a “significant, common-sense step forward.” But why is this such a crucial move? Currently, marijuana shares the same Schedule I classification as heroin and LSD, meaning it’s deemed to have “no current accepted medical use” and a high potential for abuse.
This classification makes it more dangerous than Schedule II drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, which have wreaked havoc in communities across the nation, including Kentucky.
In his letter, Beshear highlights four main areas where rescheduling would have meaningful impacts:
- For patients, rescheduling destigmatizes medical marijuana, confirms medical freedom, provides an alternative to deadly opioids, and ensures continued access to safe products.
- For communities, rescheduling means legal medical cannabis programs continue to provide a secure alternative to illicit and unregulated markets, further reducing crime and abuse.
- For businesses, rescheduling means fair markets – placing cannabis businesses on the same economic footing as any other business.
- For the scientific community, rescheduling means real opportunities for research on marijuana.
Bipartisan Support For Cannabis Rescheduling
“The jury is no longer out on marijuana: it has medical uses and is currently being used for medical purposes,” says Beshwar in his letter.
“This recognition is overwhelming – and bipartisan. In Kentucky, for example, I signed a medical marijuana law that passed with support from Republican legislative supermajorities and a Democratic Governor.”
The opioid crisis has hit Kentucky particularly hard. In his letter, Beshear outlines that from 2012 to 2016, over 5,800 Kentuckians died from opioid abuse. During this same period, Kentucky experienced zero marijuana overdose deaths. Nationally, opioid use killed 80,000 Americans in 2022, while marijuana use alone resulted in no deaths.
“Thankfully, a well-regulated medical marijuana market provides an alternative to opioids. Our sister states have shown that medical marijuana programs are safe.” says Beshear
“We look forward to seeing how safe medical marijuana products will reduce the suffering and improve the lives of tens of thousands of Kentuckians when our Program launches in 2025.”
With bipartisan support, Kentucky anticipates introducing medical marijuana in 2025, following Governor Andy Beshear’s signing of Senate Bill 47 in March last year.
The Need for Complete Removal from the CSA
While rescheduling is certainly a step forward, it is significant because it would mark the first time the federal government recognizes cannabis as medicine rather than merely exploiting it for the failed “War on Drugs.”
This shift in perception is crucial for changing the narrative around marijuana. For too long, people have lumped cannabis together with harmful drugs like heroin and LSD, overshadowing its potential medical benefits and scientific value.
However, here at Beard Bros, we want to reiterate that rescheduling alone is not enough. The ultimate aim should be to remove marijuana from the CSA altogether. By continuing to classify cannabis under the CSA, even as a Schedule III substance, it remains under federal control and regulation, imposing unnecessary restrictions and stigmatization.
Interestingly, while cannabis is in the process of potentially being reclassified, there is also a concurrent attempt to deschedule it entirely with the reintroduction of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA).
This legislation, proposed by an alliance of Senate leaders, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, and Senator Cory Booker, aims to remove cannabis completely from the CSA, thereby eliminating federal control.
Descheduling marijuana would treat it similarly to alcohol or tobacco, allowing for more research, better patient access, and a significant blow to the illicit market. Only then can we fully unlock the potential that cannabis has to offer.
The public comment period for rescheduling cannabis is currently active but will end in a few days on July 22nd. If you haven’t yet, and would like your opinion to be voiced, you can add your comments here at the Federal Register.
