Oklahoma lawmakers sign letter to fight federal effort to reschedule marijuana
One advocate for marijuana in Oklahoma said the decision could impact everyone, including the medical marijuana industry
Oklahoma’s senior U.S. senator is fighting an effort to reschedule marijuana from a schedule I drug to a schedule III drug. >> Download the KOCO 5 AppSen. James Lankford was among several lawmakers to send a bicameral letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, calling out a proposed rule from the Drug Enforcement Administration to reschedule the drug. Oklahoma Congressman Josh Brecheen also signed the letter. One advocate for marijuana in Oklahoma said the decision could impact everyone, including the medical marijuana industry. While he agreed with the lawmakers’ idea to not change marijuana from a schedule I controlled substance to a schedule III, he disagreed with the senator’s reasoning. “Our number one priority as an organization is consumer safety with the product,” Jed Green, the director of Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action, said. “Rescheduling marijuana to schedule III would absolutely devastate the existing marijuana industry in our country.”The DEA said schedule I substances are defined as drugs with no accepted medical use with a high potential for abuse. Schedule III would be drugs with moderate or low levels of making someone dependent on them. In a statement last week, Lankford said it should not change because there is not enough science to back this up. He went on to relate the problem to Oklahoma, saying it would be dangerous for the country and the Sooner state. “Our local enforcement agencies have been making progress on removing bad actors from this state. They’ve been very zealous, in some cases over-zealous,” Green said. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Green said he agrees that it shouldn’t become a schedule III drug, but if it were up to him, it would simply be de-scheduled. If it were to change, he said everyday Oklahomans would be impacted immediately. “Their access to clean product would disappear almost overnight,” Green said. October marks the two-year mark since President Joe Biden asked to review marijuana’s scheduling. Top Headlines Police identify victim, investigate motivation behind deadly shooting at southeast OKC home Police take suspect into custody after deadly shooting at southeast Oklahoma City home President Biden ends 2024 reelection bid, VP Harris gets his endorsement Former Oklahoma Gov. David Walters supports Biden’s decision to drop out of presidential race Oklahoma politicians react to President Joe Biden’s announcement on not seeking reelection
Oklahoma’s senior U.S. senator is fighting an effort to reschedule marijuana from a schedule I drug to a schedule III drug.
Sen. James Lankford was among several lawmakers to send a bicameral letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, calling out a proposed rule from the Drug Enforcement Administration to reschedule the drug. Oklahoma Congressman Josh Brecheen also signed the letter.
One advocate for marijuana in Oklahoma said the decision could impact everyone, including the medical marijuana industry. While he agreed with the lawmakers’ idea to not change marijuana from a schedule I controlled substance to a schedule III, he disagreed with the senator’s reasoning.
“Our number one priority as an organization is consumer safety with the product,” Jed Green, the director of Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action, said. “Rescheduling marijuana to schedule III would absolutely devastate the existing marijuana industry in our country.”
The DEA said schedule I substances are defined as drugs with no accepted medical use with a high potential for abuse. Schedule III would be drugs with moderate or low levels of making someone dependent on them.
In a statement last week, Lankford said it should not change because there is not enough science to back this up. He went on to relate the problem to Oklahoma, saying it would be dangerous for the country and the Sooner state.
“Our local enforcement agencies have been making progress on removing bad actors from this state. They’ve been very zealous, in some cases over-zealous,” Green said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Green said he agrees that it shouldn’t become a schedule III drug, but if it were up to him, it would simply be de-scheduled.
If it were to change, he said everyday Oklahomans would be impacted immediately.
“Their access to clean product would disappear almost overnight,” Green said.
October marks the two-year mark since President Joe Biden asked to review marijuana’s scheduling.
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