DEA decides not to loosen restrictions on marijuana, keeping it schedule 1 (with heroin)

Vox ^ | August 11,2016

[soycd]

There is just plain stupid and then you have governmental stupid.

[zipper]

Bad news for the newest member of the Choom gang.

[aces]

agents not keeping up with budget eh...gotta imprison, ie, rob, betray citizens for the gangstamints profit..
disgusting the lies...

[aimhigh]

Does DEA have the authority to make the change? I find it hard to believe marijuana is hard coded in statute.

[NormsRevenge]

I wonder how much that decision cost Big Pharma and Big Tobacco?

[LS]

I am not a druggie. I do think legalizing drugs sets a bad example.

But this is ridiculous. Weed just is not that destructive-—far less so than alcohol. Silly to put it on a plane with heroin.

[TheStickman]

A bad a decision as any gov’t agency has ever made. Hopefully this is fixed after President Trump (who has said the states should decide what to do about cannabis) takes office. in 2017

Vote Trump 2016

[Billthedrill]

The DEA has precisely one interest at stake: maintaining power, and rescheduling pot won’t do that.

[Carriage Hill]

There’s more financial incentive in keeping it illegal and a law enforcement problem, than rescheduling it and permitting medical R&D, and usage. Follow the money...

[Gadsden1st]

The DEA is not about to kill the golden goose.

A DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY is dependent on having drugs that allow them to seize assets.

[circlecity]

This was purely to maintain the big DEA budgets which translates to higher salaries and more power for head honchos there. Always follow the money.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I’m not a fan of legalizing weed, but this is really over the top.

Heroin is absolutely laying waste to vast stretches of this country.

[Diogenesis]

TWO AMERICA ALERT:

Only the EXEMPT, like Obama and family, have access
to this legally, daily, and without fear.

[gdani]

But one reason there isn’t enough scientific evidence to change marijuana’s schedule 1 status might be, in fact, the drug’s schedule 1 status. The DEA restricts how much pot can go to research....Changing marijuana’s schedule, in other words, is a bit of a Catch-22: There needs to be a certain level of scientific research that proves marijuana has medical value, but the federal government’s restrictions make it difficult to conduct that research.

Big Government logic at its finest. With, I'm sure, plenty of noise in their ears from the alcohol, tobacco, and pharma lobbies.

[CGASMIA68]

Get ride of weed and I am sure 50% plus agents are no longer needed.

Agents need this “substance” to justify their job...PERIOD

Plus then they need to go to the street for the private stash

[Mr. K]

This is stupid government in action.

Not even allowing medical research of A PLANT THAT GROWS THAT GOD MADE.

[Wolfie]

Heroin is absolutely laying waste to vast stretches of this country.

But that is fueled by prescription opiates that benefit Bith Pharma, so that's not going to go away anytime soon.

[heterosupremacist]

Schedule II:

Second, Schedule II substances are seen by the Legislature has a “little bit safer” if used by the general public. A substance may fall under Schedule II if the substance has (a) high abuse potential; (b) the substance is medically accepted or accepted with severe restrictions; and (c) abuse may cause the user to suffer from psychological or physical dependence. Some of the more well-known substances which are classified under Schedule II include: hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine.

Is marijuana really more dangerous than hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine?

ALL drugs (and everything else under the sun) have the potential to become addictive.

I am not in favor of legalizing marijuana; but there is a reason that marijuana is schedule 1. Think about it...

[nascarnation]

Bith Pharma

Aren't most of those generics that are typically made offshore?