April 30, 20241 yr 1 minute ago, BBE said: The answer is no. If it's schedule iii, not schedule i, I don't see why they couldn't/wouldn't.
April 30, 20241 yr 10 minutes ago, VaBeach_Eagle said: If it's schedule iii, not schedule i, I don't see why they couldn't/wouldn't. Because cannabis is not an approved drug. The only approved cannabis derived drugs are Epidiolex and Marinol. The FDA has stubbornly refused to acknowledge cannabis flower (medical Marijuana) medical benefits due to "lack of research".
April 30, 20241 yr Quote As long as the Food and Drug Administration classifies marijuana as Schedule I VA health care providers may not recommend it or assist Veterans to obtain it. https://www.publichealth.va.gov/marijuana.asp But that isn't the case anymore (or it won't be once the administrations signs off on this).
April 30, 20241 yr 21 minutes ago, BBE said: Because cannabis is not an approved drug. The only approved cannabis derived drugs are Epidiolex and Marinol. The FDA has stubbornly refused to acknowledge cannabis flower (medical Marijuana) medical benefits due to "lack of research". That's the situation as it sits right now, yes. But from the article that I read, reclassifying it would change that. Quote The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced on Tuesday that it will move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, The Associated Press has learned. The planned move by the Biden administration comes during an election year. This proposal, if passed, would recognize the medical uses of cannabis and acknowledge it has less potential for abuse than some of the nation’s most dangerous drugs. However, it would not legalize marijuana outright for recreational use. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a historic shift to generations of American drug policy that could have wide ripple-effects across the country. The DEA’s proposal still must be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., made his case for marijuana legalization earlier this month, emphasizing that safety is heightened when marijuana is regulated. "It needs to be safe, pure, taxed and available," Fetterman previously told Fox News Digital, explaining that illegally purchased versions of the drug are difficult to trace and could be cut with dangerous substances, such as fentanyl. He has also lobbied Biden to deschedule marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), under which the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) currently lists it as schedule I. This schedule includes drugs "with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse." Marijuana is included in the list of schedule I substances, alongside heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ecstasy, and peyote, among others. As the drug schedule changes – Schedule II, Schedule III, etc., so does the abuse potential – Schedule V drugs represent the least potential for abuse. Schedule III drugs have a lower misuse potential than I and II, according to CSA. Drugs in this category may cause physical dependence but more commonly lead to psychological dependence. Drugs in this category also require a prescription and all CSA record-keeping requirements would apply. However, this does not mean it is legal to sell without a Medical License and a DEA registration. It is the same as filling a prescription at a pharmacy. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, marijuana in small amounts has been made legal for recreational use by adults in 24 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and two U.S. territories. "Any adult should be allowed to do that legally without any criminal … blowback," the Pennsylania senator said. Fetterman stressed he doesn't believe "anyone [should] have their lives impacted criminally for a nonviolent marijuana charge." "Republicans want legal weed. Democrats want legal weed," Fetterman said. "And I think this is a [place] where we could come together in a bipartisan way to say, 'Look, let's do this and just get on with it.'" Marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with an estimated 48.2 million users nationwide in 2019, which has only increased since then, with states continuing to legalize recreational and medical cannabis use. That being the case, it would still likely take years to work its way through the system, unless specific legislation were to be passed that authorized the VA to prescribe it. In October or November, both the House and Senate apparently passed bills that would allow VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana so changing it to schedule III would (I would think), allow them to actually prescribe it (once the house and senate hammer out the final bill). Spoiler Quote The Senate has approved a bill that includes an provision to allow doctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue medical marijuana recommendations to veterans living in legal states—setting the stage for conference with the House, which has separately advanced similar language in its own version of the appropriations legislation. Senators approved the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilConVA) measure with the cannabis amendment from Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) as part of a "minibus” package of three spending bills on Wednesday. The vote was 82-15. This comes about three months after the House passed its MilConVA bill with an amendment sponsored by Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) and other members of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus that would also give VA doctors the ability to recommend medical cannabis to veterans. But the exact language of the proposals are slightly different, meaning the issue will need to be reconciled in a bicameral conference committee or otherwise negotiated by House and Senate leaders as part of a final bill to be sent to the president before potentially being enacted into law. A similar situation played out in 2016, with both chambers including differing versions of the VA marijuana amendment in their appropriations bills, only to have the issue completely stripped out of the final deal that was signed into law. "Veterans face too many roadblocks in getting the care they need and deserve. That’s why I have consistently led an effort to ensure VA doctors are able to discuss the full range of legal treatment options with their patients,” Merkley told Marijuana Moment. "Outdated laws should never censor veterans’ doctor-patient relationships. I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate to make this the time we make this important option a reality for America’s veterans.” https://www.marijuanamoment.net/senate-votes-to-allow-va-doctors-to-recommend-medical-marijuana-to-veterans-similar-to-house-passed-version/ Of course, that was in November. I don't know if they killed the bill or made any progress on it or if they'll just let it die (probably the latter, knowing Congress).
April 30, 20241 yr 1 minute ago, Tnt4philly said: Marijuana should be classified right beside tomatoes. I don't think I'd go quite that far, but I'd say at top end, classify it as needing a prescription and at a minimum the same way that alcohol is classified. It's an intoxicant , so I'd say at the very least age restrict it.
April 30, 20241 yr 11 minutes ago, VaBeach_Eagle said: I don't think I'd go quite that far, but I'd say at top end, classify it as needing a prescription and at a minimum the same way that alcohol is classified. It's an intoxicant , so I'd say at the very least age restrict it. Yes, it’s a bit of hyperbole, but I think the top end should be that it is treated like alcohol. Weed isn’t harmless, but it is much less harmful than alcohol. A kid could get ahold of a bottle of 151, easily take off the cap and drink until dead. If a kid got ahold of an ounce of weed and ate it, the worst case scenario is they have an upset stomach. Yet I need power tools to open my medical weed. I don’t have an issue with age restrictions, but I believe there are some mental health issues in kids that could be treated with thc and that they should at least be researching it more.
May 9, 20241 yr On 4/30/2024 at 11:52 PM, VanHammersly said: Republicans: We are the new counter-culture. We’re cool now. Also Republicans: sounds like somebody lost a chick to a guy who had better weed.
May 16, 20241 yr Quote URGENT: Justice Department formally moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in historic shift By LINDSAY WHITEHURST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Thursday formally moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in a historic shift in generations of U.S. drug policy. A proposed rule sent to the federal register recognizes the medical uses of cannabis and acknowledges it has less potential for abuse than some of the nation’s most dangerous drugs. The plan approved by Attorney General Merrick Garland does not legalize marijuana outright for recreational use. The Drug Enforcement Administration will take public comment on the proposal to move marijuana away from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. It moves pot to Schedule III, alongside ketamine and some anabolic steroids. The move comes after a recommendation from the federal Health and Human Services Department, which launched a review of the drug’s status at the urging of President Joe Biden in 2022. Biden also has moved to pardon thousands of people convicted federally of simple possession of marijuana and has called on governors and local leaders to take similar steps to erase convictions. "This is monumental,” Biden said in a video statement, calling it an important move toward reversing longstanding inequities. "Far too many lives have been upended because of a failed approach to marijuana, and I’m committed to righting those wrongs. You have my word on it.” The election year announcement could help Biden, a Democrat, boost flagging support, particularly among younger voters. The notice of proposed rulemaking submitted to the federal register kicks off a 60-day comment period followed by a possible review from an administrative judge, a potentially lengthy process. Biden and a growing number of lawmakers from both major political parties have been pushing for the DEA decision as marijuana has become increasingly decriminalized and accepted, particularly by younger people. Schedule III drugs are still controlled substances and subject to rules and regulations, and people who traffic in them without permission could still face federal criminal prosecution. Some critics argue the DEA shouldn’t change course on marijuana, saying rescheduling isn’t necessary and could lead to harmful side effects. Others argue marijuana should be treated the way alcohol is. Federal drug policy has lagged behind many states in recent years, with 38 states having already legalized medical marijuana and 24 legalizing its recreational use. That’s helped fuel fast growth in the marijuana industry, with an estimated worth of nearly $30 billion. Easing federal regulations could reduce the tax burden that can be 70% or more for marijuana businesses, according to industry groups. It also could make it easier to research marijuana, since it’s very difficult to conduct authorized clinical studies on Schedule I substances. ___ Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report. ___ Follow the AP's coverage of marijuana at https://apnews.com/hub/marijuana. -0- May/16/2024 17:00 GMT To view this story in Bloomberg click here: https://blinks.bloomberg.com/news/stories/SDL8LLTVI5MO
May 16, 20241 yr 5 minutes ago, vikas83 said: It moves pot to Schedule III, alongside ketamine and some anabolic steroids. I can tell the author is old because he still refers to it as "pot".
May 16, 20241 yr 14 minutes ago, vikas83 said: This guy just rolled over in his grave. Tricky Dick. He really stuck it to the long hairs by putting their drug of choice on Schedule I.
May 16, 20241 yr Just a little math for all the homies. That would take me like 3 years to smoke all that myself.
May 27, 20241 yr On 5/24/2024 at 4:59 PM, Talkingbirds said: So you’re saying pot is a depressant ? 😁 Like alcohol, weed is a stimulant and a depressant.
May 27, 20241 yr 12 hours ago, Tnt4philly said: Like alcohol, weed is a stimulant and a depressant. My weeds are depressing, when I see them then I know that I have to cut the grass... ugh!
June 5, 20241 yr Marijuana Reclassification Unlikely to Mean Any Changes for Troops and Veterans, at Least for Now Quote President Joe Biden's move last month to reclassify marijuana as a less risky and dangerous drug on the federal government's list of controlled substances could mark one of the most significant drug reforms in decades once finalized. But for service members and veterans, nothing will really change. For now, marijuana use remains subject to punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and veterans are still not able to obtain the drug from Department of Veterans Affairs doctors, despite rapid and widespread legalization of cannabis at the state level. And changing that will be a long road, even after reclassification. "Rescheduling would likely not impact members of the military any differently than those outside the military," Peter Carr, a Justice Department spokesman, told Military.com. "Marijuana will continue to be subject to criminal penalties under federal law, even if marijuana is rescheduled." As marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, it's deemed as dangerous as heroin or LSD and therefore seen as highly likely for abuse and offering little benefit to the user. The Biden administration's plan to push it to Schedule III -- alongside items such as ketamine, steroids and testosterone -- recognizes there's lower likelihood for dependence and possible benefits. To get marijuana fully rescheduled will take time. The draft plan is open for public comment for nearly two months, and groups can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. Only after those comments are submitted and any potential hearings held would an administrative law judge recommend a ruling to the Drug Enforcement Administration for a final scheduling decision, Carr told Military.com. While the benefits to rescheduling mainly affect research efforts on marijuana and certain businesses can't claim certain tax benefits due to their product being a Schedule I drug, it does signify a cultural shift at the federal level, in which officials indicate that cannabis isn't as dangerous as their policies have made it out to be since at least 1970. "This is monumental," Biden said in a video statement last month. "Far too many lives have been upended because of a failed approach to marijuana, and I'm committed to righting those wrongs. You have my word on it." But changing the culture around the Uniform Code of Military Justice and marijuana use within the ranks is a different story. Many of the services have been granting marijuana waivers to recruits for years, and the military has undertaken more progressive reforms in recent years as it struggles with the toughest recruiting environment in decades. The Air Force's newest pilot program -- which allows otherwise perfect recruits who test positive for marijuana a chance to retest again and join the ranks -- allowed 350 people to join the service from September 2022 to May 1, 2024, according to the Air Force Recruiting Service. Earlier this year, the Navy announced it wasn't kicking out recruits who show up to boot camp and test positive for marijuana in their system. Last month, a provision included in the House's version of the annual defense policy bill -- which could still be cut -- would stop marijuana testing altogether for recruits seeking to join the military. But once any civilian fully becomes a service member, marijuana use is no longer tolerated. UCMJ Article 112a details wrongful use and possession of controlled substances and lists by name: "opium, heroin, cocaine, amphetamine, lysergic acid diethylamide (acid/LSD), methamphetamine (meth/crystal meth), phencyclidine (angel dust), barbituric acid, marijuana, and any of their compounds or derivatives." Furthermore, that same article also specifies "any substances listed on a schedule of controlled substances prescribed by the president, as well as those listed in Schedules I through V of section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act." That would cover marijuana even after the planned reclassification by the Biden administration. Rescheduling marijuana may have some positive effects for businesses and researchers in the civilian world, but nothing changes for those in uniform. The federal government convicts very few individuals on charges of possession and use of marijuana. The vast and overwhelming number of those convictions happen at the state level. Eric Carpenter, an associate professor of law at Florida International University who specializes in military justice, told Military.com in an interview that service members are one of the few federally governed groups who are still subject to those types of charges. "That's the population that's subject to [UCMJ article 112a]. Where the rubber hits the road, there's not really going to be any change. So, the rest of it is pretty symbolic," Carpenter said. But marijuana use has typically been treated differently from other drugs among the service branches and by some commanders, Carpenter added. Under the UCMJ, which is prescribed by Congress, a service member convicted of using marijuana could receive a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of pay and possible confinement, but Carpenter said it's not uncommon for someone to receive nonjudicial punishment instead. "It's all stuck inside the same classification within the statute, but they have traditionally been treated differently by commanders, even without Congress taking any action," Carpenter said. The Army, Navy and Air Force have seemingly loosend up a bit, while the Marine Corps continues to be harsher with its punishment for marijuana use, he said. "The other services have already, in some ways, kind of as a norm, sort of reclassified it a little bit. They just treated it as much less serious." Veterans who have already turned to using medical marijuana at the state level through their primary care provider will likely not see much change either. Currently, Department of Veterans Affairs doctors can't recommend marijuana, help those former service members obtain it or prescribe it, and the VA can't pay for it. VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes told Military.com that, as it stands now, marijuana is still a Schedule I drug and VA clinicians still can't prescribe it to veterans. But if rescheduled, it could open the door to further research for medical purposes. "President Biden asked the secretary of health and human services and the attorney general [to] initiate the administrative review of how marijuana is scheduled under federal law," Hayes told Military.com. "Once that process is complete, VA will consider appropriate next steps, including additional research on the use of marijuana for medical purposes." Hayes added that "a veteran's use of marijuana does not impact their ability to access VA health care or benefits" and former service members can discuss that drug use with their VA provider. On Tuesday, the House passed an amendment to the VA appropriations bill, which still must go through negotiations, that would allow VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana to veterans in states where the drug has been legalized. Similar efforts have been stricken from the final bill in past years. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a nonprofit veterans organization, joined a chorus of groups praising the rescheduling effort, saying it would ease the stigma around marijuana use for their members. "Many veterans already use cannabis to treat their war-time wounds -- visible and invisible. They're paying out of pocket to do so, not just because it works, but because we're also the generation that grew up amidst the opioid crisis and are eager for any alternative to pills," Allison Jaslow, CEO of IAVA, said in a press release. "It's time for veterans who live in states who don't have access to legal cannabis to finally have this treatment available to them. The next step is getting the VA to pay for it." Eventually allowing service members to use marijuana while in uniform is a tall order, especially because of long-standing norms about good order and discipline, paired with the fact that they are often utilizing heavy equipment and expensive weapons. Carpenter said it's not likely that change will come easily within the military. "There's the discipline part, which is just there's sort of a culture built up where it's part of the norm that you don't use marijuana," Carpenter said. "I don't think there's going to be any pressure from the inside out, like commanders saying, 'Let's go ahead and take [marijuana] off the list." -- Rebecca Kheel contributed to this report. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/04/marijuana-reclassification-unlikely-mean-any-changes-troops-and-veterans-least-now.html?ESRC=eb_240605.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb&utm_campaign=20240605
August 4, 20241 yr Author Ken Griffin is known for being among one of the most prominent political donors in the nation. Billionaire Ken Griffin is giving a staggering $12 million to the campaign to defeat Amendment 3, a move that will jolt the effort to block the recreational marijuana initiative. Griffin, the CEO of hedge fund firm Citadel who relocated his business from Chicago two years ago, announced his support in a Miami Herald op-ed. "Passage of Amendment 3 would create a monopoly for large marijuana dispensaries and permit pot use in public and private areas throughout Florida,” Griffin wrote. "That will help no one other than special interests — and it will hurt us all, especially through more dangerous roads, a higher risk of addiction among our youth, and an increase in crime.” https://floridapolitics.com/archives/687665-billionaire-ken-griffin-commits-12m-to-defeat-recreational-pot-campaign/
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