The federal government moved to reclassify medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug, bringing a big change to dispensaries. Jodi Hernandez reports.
The federal government moved to reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug on Thursday, bringing a big change to dispensaries.
For decades, marijuana has been grouped in the same Schedule I classification as heroin and LSD by the federal government.
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On Thursday, President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug, listing it as a Schedule III drug, with things like Tylenol with codeine.
The co-founder of 7 stars holistic healing center, a dispensary in Richmond says the reclassification is great news. He hopes his business will now be eligible for tax deductions. He also looks forward to more medical research.
“It’s always been safe, but now the federal government has declassified it,” Dayem said. “It’s good for the patient. It’s good for the plant. It’s good for the future of cannabis.”
Kelli Valle, 67, says she’s been taking topical cannabis for pain for years.
“I think it’s really gonna help the stigma of cannabis that has been laid on it for so long,” she said. “It’s incredible, you put it on in in 15 minutes you don’t have your pain.”
She hopes the reclassification will prompt others to give it a try. While she’s surprised the Trump administration made the change, she’s grateful.
“Doesn’t he surprise everybody?” she said.