United States President Joe Biden’s administration formally proposed on Thursday reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, this shift would bring federal policy more in line with public opinion.
“No one should be in jail merely for using or processing marijuana. Period”, Joe Biden the US President said in a video statement.
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Marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I Substance drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This means that in the field of medicine, it is still not accepted as a good form of substance to consume as it has side effects and a high potential for abuse.
The Proposal of reclassification of Marijuana would downgrade it to a Scheduled III drug, which is similar to ketamine, and codeine-containing painkillers, with are moderate to low likelihood of dependence.
What is Marijuana?
Marijuana or Cannabis – similarly known as weed, herb, pot, grass, bud, ganja, Mary Jane and has other names in the vast number of other slang. Marijuana can be seen as a greenish-grey mixture of the dried flowers of Cannabis sativa. According to medical research Marijuana is considered a drug that can destroy the human body parts and its effect will last for a longer period. Smoking marijuana can affect memory and cognitive function and can cause cardiovascular effects, which lead to high blood pressure.
Consumption of Marijuana for the long term can affect the Respiratory organs.
A strategy for upcoming elections?
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. Joe Biden has contested for President thrice in 1988, 2008, and 2020. He is the current president of the United States since 2021. The Reclassification can be seen as a vote-winner for Biden in the upcoming November elections, particularly among the young voters. A Pew Research Centre Survey found that 88 per cent of Americans believe marijuana should be considered legal for medical or recreational use, with only 11 per cent opposing it legally.
War on drugs
The decision to outlaw Marijuana at the federation level in 1973 was largely based on racist ideas, about the drug. The drug was associated with Jazz Music, the Black community, and Mexican immigrants.
The War on Drugs in 1970s affected the minorities particularly Black Americans, who were overrepresented in Marijuana-related arrests.
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The Reclassification of Marijuana has been praised by industry leaders and civil rights organizations, with the National Association for the Advancement of colored people stating that “Far too many Black American victims have fallen victim to a system designed for their demise”.
About Author
This Article has been written by Ms Vijaya Pramodini SK, an aspiring journalist, who is currently dedicated to her studies in Journalism and communication. With a keen eye for authenticity, she strives to uncover and present the real facts, embodying the principles of ethical journalism.
