Politico cannabis policy reporter Natalie Fertig discusses the federal government's move to reclassify marijuana. They explore the implications for drug policy, challenges of illegal markets, disparities in the cannabis industry, and President Biden's stance on legalization.
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Quick takeaways
Reclassifying marijuana to a less dangerous controlled substance may not have significant legal impact in states where it's already legalized.
Increasing marijuana potency, especially in edibles and vape cartridges, raises concerns about potential health risks.
Deep dives
Federal Government's Plan to Reschedule Marijuana
The federal government under President Biden is looking to reschedule marijuana, potentially shifting it from a Schedule 1 drug to a less strict category. While touted as a monumental change, it may not have a significant impact on everyday individuals, with no immediate changes in legal statuses expected in states where marijuana is already legalized for recreational or medical use.
Current Cannabis Policy Landscape in the United States
Currently, more than half of the U.S. population resides in states where marijuana is legal for recreational use, creating a stark inconsistency between state and federal laws. This dichotomy has led to varied regulations across states, from Utah's strict medical marijuana laws to Oregon and Oklahoma's more liberal approaches. The patchwork of laws poses challenges, with legalizing marijuana not effectively eliminating black markets for the drug.
Potency and Regulatory Challenges of Marijuana
The potency of marijuana has significantly increased over time, with THC levels rising from 4-7% to over 20% in states where it's recreationally legal. This heightened potency, especially in edibles and vape cartridges, raises concerns about potential health risks, including psychosis among young adult users. Although there are calls for regulation to address potency issues, challenges remain due to the lack of a clear regulatory framework and hesitance from lawmakers to address the issue comprehensively.
The federal government has moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous controlled substance. Politico cannabis policy reporter Natalie Fertig explains why it is and isn’t a big deal.
This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.