‘This is potentially the biggest law changed in the last 50 years’: DEA looking to move marijuana to a schedule 3 drug

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - Marijuana is currently a Schedule one drug making it in the same group as drugs like LSD, ecstasy and heroin. If moved to a schedule three drug, it would be in a group with drugs like Tylenol with codeine and ketamine.

The White House, which examines the medical uses of cannabis would have to acknowledge it has less potential for abuse among adults and decrease barriers in the industry.

This could lead to more options while shopping at a dispensary. 11 News spoke with the district manager of Strawberry Fields in Pueblo to learn more.

“This is potentially the biggest law changed in the last 50 years the government acknowledging that there are medical benefits to cannabis,” District Manager of Strawberry Fields Tyler Long said.

For the last decade, Colorado has seen the effect legal recreational marijuana has on the state. More than $15.7 billion in sales has netted the state more than $2.6 billion in tax revenue all while classified as Schedule Three.

If federal leaders go through with rescheduling Colorado could see new avenues for cannabis. 11 News reached out to the marijuana enforcement division about this and they say in part:

“We are actively working on assessing program changes based on what we know about schedule III substances, but a more meaningful analysis will require more official details from the federal government.”

The White House’s Office of Management and Budget would look at the DEA’s recommendation. The marijuana enforcement division says they expect to see several state regulatory updates and that could impact previous felony convictions.

Colorado’s attorney general Phil Weiser has been in support of the rescheduling and says in a statement, in part:

“A well-regulated cannabis market protects legal cannabis consumers and supports law enforcement efforts to eliminate the illicit marijuana market and protect consumers from unregulated intoxicating hemp products.”

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