The Biden administration is attempting to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana for political points, despite failing to meet the legal or scientific standards for such a change. This cynical move undermines the rule of law and ignores the detrimental health effects of marijuana.
The Biden administration's attempt to reschedule marijuana under federal law is a blatant political ploy that disregards legal standards, scientific evidence, and the well-being of American citizens.
Biden's Marijuana Maneuver: Politics Over Science
Federal law classifies drugs into five schedules based on their potential for abuse and medical use. Schedule I drugs, which have no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, include marijuana.
Despite the lack of scientific support, the Biden administration is determined to loosen marijuana laws to appease their political base. Most recently in 2016, the Obama administration failed to downgrade marijuana after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concluded it lacked an accepted medical use.
Biden's Marijuana Maneuver: Politics Over Science
However, under political pressure from the Biden administration, HHS has reversed course, even though the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has not endorsed a change. To bypass the DEA, President Biden directed HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Attorney General Merrick Garland to "expeditiously" review marijuana's status.
HHS then recommended rescheduling marijuana, sidelining established standards and fabricating new criteria to achieve the administration's desired result. The DEA disagreed and refused to sign off on the proposed change. Undeterred, Attorney General Garland overrode the DEA to sign the final proposed rule.
Biden's Marijuana Maneuver: Politics Over Science
Marijuana clearly meets the criteria for Schedule I drugs, as it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. The evidence overwhelmingly supports this conclusion.
Moreover, marijuana has severe negative effects on mental and physical health, increasing the risk of psychosis, suicidal ideation, and hallucinations. It is particularly harmful to children and teenagers.
Biden's Marijuana Maneuver: Politics Over Science
The Biden-Harris administration's argument that states allowing medical marijuana establish its medical value is fallacious. Drug availability for medical use is not based on political popularity but on rigorous scientific evidence proving the drug is safe, effective, and uniformly made. The FDA has not approved marijuana for any medical condition.
Rescheduling marijuana will allow the marijuana industry to deduct expenses as business expenses, essentially subsidizing the industry with taxpayer money. It will also enable weed peddlers to downplay the drug's addictive potential and health risks, expanding their customer base.
Biden's Marijuana Maneuver: Politics Over Science
This move comes as cartels and transnational criminal organizations increase their marijuana cultivation and distribution in the United States.
The Biden administration's blatant disregard for legal standards and scientific evidence in its rush to loosen marijuana restrictions tramples on the rule of law and endangers the health and safety of Americans. Their actions are a cynical pursuit of political gain at the expense of the nation's well-being.
