Marijuana has been illegal according to federal law since the passing of the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937, but that may soon change. A bipartisan bill is gaining significant support that will ease the legal issues for people in states, like Colorado and California, which have booming legal marijuana industries. For those operating business related to marijuana in states that have legalized different forms and uses of marijuana, they have still been technically breaking federal law. Lawmakers have long acknowledged the need for change, but it has been a long time coming.
Earlier this month, a bill was finally introduced that would help eliminate the contradictions between federal and state law, making activities related to marijuana (i.e. medical marijuana usage , reseaching of marijuana, and Vetran participation) that are legal according to the state they take place in legal for federal purposes as well. Rescheduling of marihuana will allow this industry to grow more rapidly and further remove the stigmata. Marijuana has become widely accepted in recent years, especially as a medicinal drug. Even recreational use has become more socially acceptable and legal in a growing number of areas. However, federal law continues to treat it as an illegal substance (schedule 1 drug), creating difficulties for business in tax reporting, interstate shipping, and financing.
The proposed bill eliminates the illegality of medicinal marijuana and reclassifies the drug from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 2 controlled substance. Schedule 1 drugs, such as LSD and heroin, are defined by the DEA as “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs are the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence.” With the switch to Schedule 2, marijuana falls under the definition of drugs that are less dangerous but still addictive. Some examples include OxyContin, Vicodin, and Ritalin.
With about half the states approving marijuana for medical use and four legalizing recreational use, the treatment of marijuana is expected to continue evolving. This bill helps the law catch up with the changes of the past decade.