Joe.My.God. LGBT News
The Hill reports:
Republicans are making a last push against the finalization of the Biden administration’s move to reschedule marijuana, despite advocates saying the fight isn’t worth the effort. The comment period for this rule ended last week, with an analysis finding over 40,000 comments had been submitted, a majority in favor of the change.
Among the comments was a 42-page letter from 11 GOP state attorneys general, speaking out against the move to reschedule.
In their letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the attorneys general acknowledged that rescheduling doesn’t remove the roadblocks keeping the marijuana industry from being fully integrated into the U.S. economy but argued that it is a step toward “normalizing” marijuana businesses.
Marijuana Moment reports:
A prohibitionist group represented by a law firm founded by former Attorney General William Barr are asking the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to extend the current public comment period for a marijuana rescheduling proposal, arguing that a delay in the rulemaking process is a matter of “public interest.”
In a request submitted to DEA earlier this month, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) argued that the 60-day public comment window that opened late last month should be extended by another 30 days, listing four reasons they believe more time is needed to collect feedback.
Notably, the request was submitted on SAM’s behalf by Torridon Law PLLC. That firm was founded by Barr, who led the Justice Department under the Trump administration and who faced criticism after initiating investigations into cannabis industry mergers that were described as improper.
The change would remove marijuana from the Schedule 1 category, where it currently resides alongside heroin and fentanyl. Dozens of Republicans in Congress in June filed amendments seeking to thwart the change. Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers is leading the push by red state attorneys general.
Republican AGs, led by @NEAttorneyGen, submitted comments to the @TheJusticeDept opposing the @DEAHQ proposed rule to reschedule marijuana. More here: https://t.co/8YtLTcY5vs
— The State AG Report (@StateAGReport) July 29, 2024