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The proposed reclassification of cannabis, which would have a profound impact on its retailers—who would finally be able to deduct a large portion of their business expenses—just got the citizenry version of a crowd wave.
Public comments on the measure to the Department of Justice closed on July 22, and 92% of comments were for relaxing the law, according to the National Cannabis Industry Association, citing data analysis by Headset, a cannabis data platform.
Breaking down that 92%:
- 35% were for reclassification, which in the eyes of the law would shift cannabis from a Schedule I substance (like heroin) to a Schedule III drug (like Tylenol with codeine).
- Even more—57%—advocated for relaxing the law even more by descheduling cannabis, which would make it legal but still subject to regulations like alcohol and tobacco.
A total of 43,552 comments were submitted, according to the Federal Register.
High drama: But reclassification is not, to put it in terms familiar to devotees, all rolled up. On July 9, a US House Republican-controlled committee passed a budget bill that barred the Department of Justice from using funding to reschedule cannabis, although its passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate promises to be less likely, since rescheduling is an initiative from President Biden’s DOJ.
More opposition came on July 22, when 11 attorneys general from red states submitted a co-signed letter opposing reclassification.
Since advocates worry a Trump administration would put the kibosh on rescheduling, they hope “a final decision will be published before the November election,” according to MJBizDaily, citing Bryan Barash, VP of public affairs at Dutchie, a cannabis sales platform.