U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is advocating for significant changes in federal cannabis policies, pressing the Biden administration to remove marijuana from the list of Schedule 1 controlled substances. During a recent press conference, Gillibrand emphasized the need for the Attorney General and Drug Enforcement Agency to deschedule marijuana, currently categorized alongside heroin and other drugs deemed to have no accepted medical use.
Highlighting the broader implications of the current classification, Gillibrand addressed the multifaceted impact of descheduling cannabis. She pointed out that the move is crucial not only for social justice but also for economic, medical, and public safety concerns. The senator underscored the importance of this action in states like New York, where recreational marijuana has been legal since 2021, contrasting it with states where possession still results in harsh penalties.
Gillibrand stressed the disproportionate impact of marijuana criminalization on communities of color, advocating for the legalization and expungement of non-violent marijuana convictions. Furthermore, she argued that reclassifying cannabis would facilitate more extensive scientific research into its medicinal benefits, potentially unlocking new healthcare opportunities.
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