By Diana Novak Jones
Dec 18 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said he will direct the U.S. Department of Justice to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug. Here’s a look at what that would mean for people shopping at dispensaries across the country.
WHAT DOES RESCHEDULING CANNABIS ACTUALLY MEAN?
Rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act is one of the biggest changes in marijuana policy in decades, but it doesn’t make marijuana legal under federal law. Schedule I drugs, like heroin, are those the government has said have no accepted medical benefit and the highest potential for abuse, whereas Schedule III drugs, which include Tylenol with codeine, have a “moderate” potential for abuse, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
While experts say rescheduling cannabis will likely lower taxes and improve access to investor funds for pot businesses, the drug will still be heavily restricted at the federal level — so not much is changing for consumers. Congress would have to pass new laws or federal agencies would need to issue new regulations to really change how people can access cannabis.
DOES THIS ORDER CHANGE WHERE I CAN LEGALLY BUY WEED?
No. Cannabis will still only be available to purchase in the 38 states that have legalized medical marijuana or in the 24 states that also allow recreational use. Legal experts say it is possible that some more states could be motivated to legalize the drug now that the federal government has dropped its broad prohibition, but that could take some time.
CAN I FLY WITH MY GUMMIES NOW?
Generally no, because cannabis is still illegal under federal law. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has said that it is not searching for illegal drugs but will report them to law enforcement if they are discovered during security screening, according to the agency’s website. Trump’s move also does not mean that people are allowed to take cannabis across state lines — Congress would likely need to pass a law to make that legal.
WILL CANNABIS PRICES GO DOWN?
Potentially. Cannabis prices are high, partly because businesses lack access to traditional banking and face high taxes, as the federal government still classifies them as drug traffickers. Reclassifying cannabis is likely to ease that tax burden, potentially allowing some companies to pass the savings on to consumers.
WILL THIS MEAN THE BLACK MARKET WILL GO AWAY?
Definitely not. The black market will stick around until marijuana sold at a state-licensed dispensary costs the same as marijuana sold on the street, experts say.
COULD THERE BE LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE MOVE?
Yes, experts said. Some groups like Smart Approaches to Marijuana, which have been outspoken in their opposition to legalization, have urged the Trump administration not to reschedule the drug and noted that legal challenges could be possible if it goes through.
(Reporting by Diana Novak Jones, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Deepa Babington)
