And research. It's much easier to do research on schedule 3 drugs than schedule 1. But I think you underestimate the benefits of cannabis businesses to bank. Dispensaries being able to accept credit and debit cards will be HUGE for them. And checks. As it stands, I don't even think growers can have bank accounts. This is a good first step. Progress can take a little time.
If I am correct many of them could only deal in cash, which cost them to pay to have a business pick up the cash, which led to being targeted for robberies.
I mean anything in the realm of rescheduling or de-scheduling would be a win for the banks. If anything this also makes dispensaries less of a target for robberies and the likes as they won't be a cash-only business, and I see that as a win.
I know it doesn't really apply here but i work at a hemp store and we have to use a (high risk merchant) i wonder if this will allow us to use regular merchant services that aren't so expensive.
Now the dispensaries are going to hand you a tablet and say "Here is some optional stuff for you to fill out with your payment..." and its gonna show tip buttons.
idk about you but i always put my extra change up to a few dollars into the tip jar for the budtenders anyways, but yes they will all be using square at some point soon and there will be a tip option for the budtenders.
My last trip to the dispensary I took $120 with me and the total came out to $100 even. Felt too awkward to ask for change to leave a smaller tip, so I kissed that little ol' 20 goodbye. I figure with some of the deals I've had in the past, it all sort of evens out.
I did the same recently, because the last place I stopped at, the guy made sure I got a first-timer massive discount that ended up saving me $20. Sounds crazy but I went in prepared to spend the money.
At the highest volume dispensary in the state, card use at the dispensary level has only been possible (sometimes) by managing to inject transactional ambiguity at the point of sale. The banks don’t want customers using their own money to pay for cannabis. The banks don’t care if you pull out of an ATM however. Therefore, the dispensaries turn the point of sale into an ATM transaction basically or most recently a gift card transaction and immediate spend. I suspect the banks are scared of being associated with cannabis.
Yup. That how the dispo near me works. That's also why they always round up to the nearest 10 and give change back if needed. Also funny, this dispo took over the location from an Asian massage studio and everytime I buy weed it shows up as Touch of Asia on my bank statement. Lmao. That was a fun conversation with the wife the first time we noticed hahaha
> That was a fun conversation with the wife the first time we noticed
Ohnoes! That is hilarious LMAO, hopefully everyone had a good sense of humor about it, I can just imagine the amount of confusion my wife would have if she saw something similar on our bank statement
But what's been fun is in the wild west days of "legalization" I've definitely been to a few dispensaries that actually took credit cards. Not big ones, just random ghetto dispos with like Staples office furniture.
Interesting point. The one time I asked, the budtender said something similar about the credit card companies. "we don't care if you use your own money (debit or cash) but the credit companies don't want to lend money like that". Not verbatim, but that was the gist of it
I think there's also an implication if said bank has any government contracts. They can't be seen in federal noncompliance as cannabis is currently illegal at the federal level.
Technically they're not charging you by debit, I don't think. I'm pretty sure they charge it as an ATM withdrawal. In my experience, that's why the charge is usually a round number, as they round up for the withdrawal and give you the change.
Yes, when we buy at a dispensary it goes through as an ATM withdrawal. I get the fee back in my account so it’s definitely charged as an ATM withdrawal.
> but we could always use debit cards.
Can you define always? Because I've been buying medical then recreational since the early 2000's and debit has only been available since rec legalization, and only the last couple of years. IIRC.
That's true, "always" was probably not a great choice of words. Ever since I have been frequenting dispensaries (about 10 years or so) I've been able to use my debit card. Probably after the recreation legalization though, so you're right
Mine does… sort of… they have an ATM next to the register area, so they tell you how much it is, and you walk over to the ATM and take cash out… and pay with that… but you don’t hand your card to the Budtender, just the cash.
This may have huge implications for employer testing since it should be legal to use with a medical card like any other prescription in schedule 3, right?
I would like an answer to this. I gave up weed when I was 21 because I work in the construction industry. I don't get tested usually, but the threat is always there if I'm in an accident at work.
My company does work with federal funds so at the moment testing on hire and accidents is mandatory I believe.
I don’t understand why rescheduling it would make all these companies stop. If they descheduled it then I’d get it. I’ve also never seen anything that says companies that accept federal funds must drug test. I work in healthcare and my company stopped testing completely because we couldn’t hire anyone. We accept plenty of federal money. There’s been some other healthcare systems omitting THC from their tests as well.
Because there are numerous schedule 3 drugs that Will pop you on a DT but are allowed via prescription. None of the the schedule 1s are. So this would be a big change in how it should be seen by employers.
Yeah plus it's just a huge expense and barrier for them in hiring. I used to work at a place with strict standards because of government funding and it was a constant complaint from my coworkers in charge of hiring an recruitment that their preferred candidate and recent college graduate would back off when a drug test was mentioned.
if in a legal state for med/rec use, one should be able to use whatever their script is for. where the issue with weed has been for a while is the ability to test current intoxication. in cali, we recently passed the no pee test AB2188, which prevents testing urine for THC. instead of testing pee for THC they are now testing breath for the nanogram level of THC which correlates to current intoxication.
it may be time until all currently legal states for med/rec convert to something similar, i would imagine...
Xanax is schedule 4 and you can't get fired for having a script. Schedule 3 would put pot alongside testosterone. Do you think it would make sense to get fired for low T?
This is a good point and I hope is what happens. I just hope everyone that uses doesn’t have to have a script and employers just use common sense especially in legal states and stop testing all together.
My previous employer dropped weed language from the handbook back when WA legalized because we have offices there and they stopped screening for it in pre-employment testing nationwide for the sake of simplicity (unless you were issued a company car)
My brother uses weed for his extreme ADHD because he can't stand stimulants. He wouldn't quit weed for anything he had to once for a month and I felt terrible for him I was honestly afraid he was going to off himself. He uses no other drugs, is incredibly hard working and honest. Has a great family and job. Weed is medicine for some people.
Yep, also have ADHD, stimulants make me more productive and help me work on tasks for longer periods of time but I only think clearly while high lol. All of my best life decisions were made while I was high.
Crazy I’m kinda the same way, was prescribed a high dose adderall when I was 12 and went cold turkey when I was 25. Couldn’t have done it without weed, truly life changing and for the better.
Just a guess, but I'd think additional changes would be required.
Weed is not prescribed. It is "recommended" by providers.
I think FDA would need to approve for it to be prescribed.
Considering they already have 2 synthetic cannabinoid drugs approved, I imagine it will largely depend on the pharma industry and that they're essentially just waiting for the DEA to do this.
We'll see, exciting times!
Yeah, I'd be surprised to see cannabis flower become a prescribed medicine.
Maybe edibles could be prescribed, since there's more control of active ingredients. I also highly doubt any medical approvals will be given to smoking anything.
Only one that is actually prescribed is when it synthetic Delta9 THC like Marinol, and that has been a Schedule III prescription medication since 1998.
It depends. For instance Alcohol is legal, your employer can still fire you for drinking on the job or coming to work with alcohol in your blood. Most states are at will employment, your employer has no obligation to employ you.
In most states your employer could say you can’t take anti depressants and work there. It’s 100% legal to discriminate based on medications
Turns out the guy below you is right, medications are actually covered under ADA and cannot be used in hiring decisions, nor be aware of any besides those which may affect job function
“Nor be aware of any besides those which may effect job function” - Correct, which leaves a giant gray area
As for being used in hiring decisions, I don’t think people realize you have no way of proving what was used. There are entire companies that exist which run background checks not compliant with things like FCRA and employers use them because you, as the applicant, can’t prove anything. You’re just going to be told you didn’t get the position. Not you didn’t get it because of “x”
I know it seems counterproductive, but this is great news. The unfortunate reality of politics in our country is that things take time and never happen logically or straight forward. We all felt the same way during the Farm Bill in 2018, and look where we are now.
Multiple states have already legalized weed, and illegal states have the THCA loophole, but the looming threat of breaking federal law has held us back for a long time. For people in illegal states like myself, this is HUGE! Smoke one today for the great news!!!
Still can’t believe how stupid Texas is
I take that back, I believe the stupidity part - it’s the fact that lawmakers are staring at a massive money-making opportunity with how much land Texas has and are instead trying to double-down on illegality.
Also have interests in maintaining existing/maximum pharmaceutical profits
Not just an interest, fiduciary duty, to make as much money as possible
Honestly if their staff were not lobbying the government against this, then they could get fired for not doing their job
That situation is fucking up this country in various industries and institutions. Like environmental & climate justice nonprofits
Their staff have fiduciary duty to try and make atrophied protest turnout seem super powerful, and their campaigns that only get ideological victories are proclaimed to be major wins.
Because if they don't act that way, they might lose grant money. They have to make it look good for the funders (instead of shareholders, in this instance). Also have to make it look good because the emails are always asking for donations.
Sunrise Movement did this the other day, sent an email saying look at all our victories. If you actually click through the link, they really didn't win anything. :/
* Dallas free transit for students, already a thing in tons of cities. The win is 'improving culture of public transit'
* 'Green New Deal for college' at U of FL, but it's only a student govt vote & has to be board approved - which we've seen them not comply with many times before. Quoted saying student govt has 'free reign' to spend millions in student org money, but obviously there's existing group spending they're not going to cut off funding for.
* GND for schools in DC, article outright says it's really just an ideological endorsement
Well the argument is always kids safety and kids really are getting their hands on some unregulated stuff. If they just legalized it and required ID, it would be way safer. But instead of legalizing they're just going after thca
Yea I've heard Tennessee is trying to write it into legality so there's no gray area and to regulate it. But i haven't heard anything about that in about a year
Here in Alabama when hemp was made federally legal the governor legalized it here by EOD. She said she'd do the same thing if weed is legalized. When states started banning she made a speech about how profitable hemp has been in Alabama and it would always be welcome here. MeeMaw Ivey got that right, at least.
Right now, all "legal" use is federal illegal. This change allows Congress to decriminalize and also means that the sell and use is not completely federal prohibited so banks should be more willing to allow transactions.
Until they’re sued for discrimination. Shouldn’t be any different than other prescriptions which state to not use machinery when under the influence. DUIs will exist but they can’t single out marijuana against other narcotics.
It's not singled out. You aren't allowed to take other prescription drugs with a CDL. I considered signing for a CDL job to preempt this decision but after I did some research it seems like DOT rules are unlikely to change until there's a way to determine intoxication levels like alcohol
The biggest difference imo is the ability for more research to be done. Which will take time, but can lead to larger strides. The federal govt moves slow, but this is a big step in the right direction
Remember a couple years ago when congress fast tracked millions of dollars of benefits for CIA and embassy staff who got hangover symptoms from the supposed “Havana syndrome”
Too bad it's a life changing medication for a lot of disabled workers. For some reason oxycodone, gabapentin, and clonazepam together as a nurse is okay!
So, since this will be classified as schedule III now, does that mean a "normal" doctor will be able to "prescribe" cannabis? Since it is going to be in the same category as testosterone, what would be the practical difference?
I'm hoping to see this reschedule do just that. I don't think we've been able to have the certified trials and tests required for prescription status. Plus, that data is needed to get regular doctors on board.
As always in private industry, even if a doctor CAN doesn't mean they will
Looks like we got the first down rather than the touchdown, but I'll take it!
Of course, that implies for us that we cannot stop.
KEEP THE DRIVE ALIVE! This is great news, but we need to keep going!
They are not easily accessible I can’t even get it prescribed for a severe panic issue they keep trying to just give me hydroxizine or some bs that doesn’t work
My sleep is garbage thanks to my ptsd and I bhad a sleep doctor years ago prescribe me Klonopin and it gave me the best sleep I got in years. I got out of the military and the VA aggressively hated that I was on a benzo which I understand and they’ve since prescribed me a ton of different sleep meds but none of them are as good as Klonopin was. I never felt any addiction to it either. I’m hoping the next civilian doc I see will be a liiiiiiitle more open to prescribing it to me.
Can you try a different doctor at the VA? They gave me Klonopin with zero issue. Well only a slight lecture about cannabis still being illegal yadda yadda
I wish I could get one for emergency use I didn’t even consider it I hated the thought of benzos til my panick go worse to the point it basically ends my day if it happens and they still won’t give me it
I hope the rescheduling leads to companies not being able to drug test for it, and to remove it from federal repercussion.
That way I can look into the soul of the company I work for and smile knowing there is nothing they can do anymore.
It seems like to me that’ll be the case at least for people with a medical card… would love a lawyer or anyone with knowledge of this stuff to chime in though
Alcohol and tobacco are explicitly exempted in the Controlled Substances Act which prohibits cannabis. The law also explicitly says that cannabis has to be schedule 1 unless otherwise scheduled. So until Congress actually updates the law, it can't be descheduled.
Which is bat shit insane. I'm a first responder and have seen first hand sooo many times what alcohol can do to a person. Head on collision DUI, falling down a flight of stairs, bar brawls, so, so, so many stupid decisions and lives destroyed over such a widely socially accepted substance. Such a backwards country we live in for our govt to praise booze and still keep cannabis locked down.
So this *should* mean that a medical card exempts you from employment THC drug tests, right? That sounds like it’d be the main benefit to people like us. A huge one if I’m interpreting this correctly
Gee they were lying about the dangers of cannabis all the time, I wonder what other drugs they've been lying about...
Oh I know exactly which ones.
“You want to know what this \[war on drugs\] was really all about? The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people. You understand what I’m saying?
We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news.
Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.”
^(\~ John Ehrlichman,) *^(Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs under President Richard Nixon)*
This isn't enough. It doesn't fully declassify marijuana, which means recreational use is still illegal. We still live in a country where alcohol is considered safer than cannabis.
But it is a significant admission that the drugs were scheduled incorrectly. That took like 50 years.
The fact that cannabis and LSD are classified as schedule 1 drugs is proof that the schedules were politicized with no scientific backing.
The entire scheduling thing is bullshit. The entire drug war is bullshit. Heroin has tons of medical value, it is uses medically around the world. Diamorphine works better than morphine, and lasts far longer than fentanyl, and is far harder to OD on than fentanyl.
The federal government's classification on cannabis is changing from 'this pure evil with no use whatsoever' to 'ok it has some medical uses, and can be researched'.
It's also a step in the direction of decriminalizing and legalizing it at a federal level.
In Florida, many of the hemp shops I frequent say they'll be out of business/closing by October, due to the lobbying TruLieve has been doing to make it a medical only state. I wonder how this plays into that?
Wouldn’t a reschedule (as opposed to a deschedule) mean that cannabis would then be an approved medication and pull nearly all products off the market that are currently sold in an OTC manner?
holy shit a headline in r/trees that starts with "BREAKING" and is about something actually happening and not someone implying that there's a chance that it will be considered
We shouldn't need a law enforcement agency to determine what half the union has already passed. The people have spoken already. Fuck the dea, disband the DEA.
Will this make it easier for me to get a medical card?? I live in an illegal state and have had my life effected a lot from getting arrested for possession. To have a chance to atleast got into a medical dispensary and to buy a vape pen (for smell purposes) would be huge for me
I doubt it will be like med programs have been. This also gives the government more say into how that medicine is distributed and in what form.
I bet you anything it’ll come down to pills and suppositories
So does this still mean nothing for me in Iowa where it's still illegal? Will I be able to get a med card for dispensary use or home grow, or will it stay the same because it's illegal in the state?
Wow that’s nuts, to put it in schedule three is to say it’s the same addiction and dependence possibility as buprenorphine, which is just straight false.
Is this great news? So it’ll be like a prescription. Which means through a pharmacy? Which begs the question of insurance. Which leads to the thought of what would they charge for weed when someone doesn’t have insurance that covers it.
Not saying it can’t be good but there are definitely reasons they’re into this idea and it’s not simply “the people deserve to smoke freely” and it’s probably more like “they’ve had a good run but we can really profit from this so let’s corner the market like we do with all pharmacy related scheduled things”
Obviously it could go a number of ways but imagine thinking the government is doing something you’re gonna like lol
Schedule III? 🤷♂️ wtf ever. Fuck the dea 🖕
Edit: fyi, schedule 3 is ketamine, codeine, hydros, anabolic steroids, suboxone. I can’t remember but can you go to jail for illegally possessing any of those? Exactly.
So does this mean I’ll be able to used my debit card to buy weed at my medical dispensary, or is that still going to be only cash?
This should free up banking for both you and the dispensary, this should also free up many tax benefits for cannabis cultivars and retailers.
Huge, not being able to write off anything because its marijuana business makes things rough.
So this was primarily for the benefit of banks. They still act like they have already won the drug war.
And research. It's much easier to do research on schedule 3 drugs than schedule 1. But I think you underestimate the benefits of cannabis businesses to bank. Dispensaries being able to accept credit and debit cards will be HUGE for them. And checks. As it stands, I don't even think growers can have bank accounts. This is a good first step. Progress can take a little time.
If I am correct many of them could only deal in cash, which cost them to pay to have a business pick up the cash, which led to being targeted for robberies.
Robberies and "cash seizures" by law enforcement when driving all that money to the bank.
I thought that was a given with my comment! 😂
Legal and illegal robbery, funny little Civil Forfeiture laws 🤭
I mean anything in the realm of rescheduling or de-scheduling would be a win for the banks. If anything this also makes dispensaries less of a target for robberies and the likes as they won't be a cash-only business, and I see that as a win.
I know it doesn't really apply here but i work at a hemp store and we have to use a (high risk merchant) i wonder if this will allow us to use regular merchant services that aren't so expensive.
Now the dispensaries are going to hand you a tablet and say "Here is some optional stuff for you to fill out with your payment..." and its gonna show tip buttons.
Better than dispensaries being full of cash and ready to rob all the time.
idk about you but i always put my extra change up to a few dollars into the tip jar for the budtenders anyways, but yes they will all be using square at some point soon and there will be a tip option for the budtenders.
My last trip to the dispensary I took $120 with me and the total came out to $100 even. Felt too awkward to ask for change to leave a smaller tip, so I kissed that little ol' 20 goodbye. I figure with some of the deals I've had in the past, it all sort of evens out.
Buy more stuff with the $20 and tip the rest if you ever find your self in that situation again?
That's fuckin' LOVE, man. Respect.
I did the same recently, because the last place I stopped at, the guy made sure I got a first-timer massive discount that ended up saving me $20. Sounds crazy but I went in prepared to spend the money.
I'm in California, but we could always use debit cards. No credit cards though. So I imagine that's what will change
At the highest volume dispensary in the state, card use at the dispensary level has only been possible (sometimes) by managing to inject transactional ambiguity at the point of sale. The banks don’t want customers using their own money to pay for cannabis. The banks don’t care if you pull out of an ATM however. Therefore, the dispensaries turn the point of sale into an ATM transaction basically or most recently a gift card transaction and immediate spend. I suspect the banks are scared of being associated with cannabis.
Yup. That how the dispo near me works. That's also why they always round up to the nearest 10 and give change back if needed. Also funny, this dispo took over the location from an Asian massage studio and everytime I buy weed it shows up as Touch of Asia on my bank statement. Lmao. That was a fun conversation with the wife the first time we noticed hahaha
> That was a fun conversation with the wife the first time we noticed Ohnoes! That is hilarious LMAO, hopefully everyone had a good sense of humor about it, I can just imagine the amount of confusion my wife would have if she saw something similar on our bank statement
I would have been killed and asked questions later through a seance lmao.
Thats funny shit
But what's been fun is in the wild west days of "legalization" I've definitely been to a few dispensaries that actually took credit cards. Not big ones, just random ghetto dispos with like Staples office furniture.
Interesting point. The one time I asked, the budtender said something similar about the credit card companies. "we don't care if you use your own money (debit or cash) but the credit companies don't want to lend money like that". Not verbatim, but that was the gist of it
I think there's also an implication if said bank has any government contracts. They can't be seen in federal noncompliance as cannabis is currently illegal at the federal level.
Technically they're not charging you by debit, I don't think. I'm pretty sure they charge it as an ATM withdrawal. In my experience, that's why the charge is usually a round number, as they round up for the withdrawal and give you the change.
Yes, when we buy at a dispensary it goes through as an ATM withdrawal. I get the fee back in my account so it’s definitely charged as an ATM withdrawal.
We can use CCs in NY currently
> but we could always use debit cards. Can you define always? Because I've been buying medical then recreational since the early 2000's and debit has only been available since rec legalization, and only the last couple of years. IIRC.
That's true, "always" was probably not a great choice of words. Ever since I have been frequenting dispensaries (about 10 years or so) I've been able to use my debit card. Probably after the recreation legalization though, so you're right
Many already accept debit
Your dispo won’t let you use a debit card? All the ones in my area are just like atms and charge you a $3+ fee. So better to bring cash.
Mine does… sort of… they have an ATM next to the register area, so they tell you how much it is, and you walk over to the ATM and take cash out… and pay with that… but you don’t hand your card to the Budtender, just the cash.
This may have huge implications for employer testing since it should be legal to use with a medical card like any other prescription in schedule 3, right?
I would like an answer to this. I gave up weed when I was 21 because I work in the construction industry. I don't get tested usually, but the threat is always there if I'm in an accident at work. My company does work with federal funds so at the moment testing on hire and accidents is mandatory I believe.
I don’t understand why rescheduling it would make all these companies stop. If they descheduled it then I’d get it. I’ve also never seen anything that says companies that accept federal funds must drug test. I work in healthcare and my company stopped testing completely because we couldn’t hire anyone. We accept plenty of federal money. There’s been some other healthcare systems omitting THC from their tests as well.
Because there are numerous schedule 3 drugs that Will pop you on a DT but are allowed via prescription. None of the the schedule 1s are. So this would be a big change in how it should be seen by employers.
Yeah plus it's just a huge expense and barrier for them in hiring. I used to work at a place with strict standards because of government funding and it was a constant complaint from my coworkers in charge of hiring an recruitment that their preferred candidate and recent college graduate would back off when a drug test was mentioned.
God I hope so, I have to have a CDL for work. I don't have many vices and don't really like booze. I really miss weed.
if in a legal state for med/rec use, one should be able to use whatever their script is for. where the issue with weed has been for a while is the ability to test current intoxication. in cali, we recently passed the no pee test AB2188, which prevents testing urine for THC. instead of testing pee for THC they are now testing breath for the nanogram level of THC which correlates to current intoxication. it may be time until all currently legal states for med/rec convert to something similar, i would imagine...
Xanax is schedule 4 and you can't get fired for having a script. Schedule 3 would put pot alongside testosterone. Do you think it would make sense to get fired for low T?
This is a good point and I hope is what happens. I just hope everyone that uses doesn’t have to have a script and employers just use common sense especially in legal states and stop testing all together.
That's the dream and I would settle for a script while we push for it.
My previous employer dropped weed language from the handbook back when WA legalized because we have offices there and they stopped screening for it in pre-employment testing nationwide for the sake of simplicity (unless you were issued a company car)
I just need it to be federally legal so I can put my transfer in at my job to drive the big trailers and like double my pay
If you have the opportunity to double your pay and weed is holding you back, it might be worth it to just take a break for a bit.
Understandable, have a great day.
Bro said fuck that money 😂😭
I dig the commitment but I also dig stacking paper.
Can't take the paper with you when you die. Each moment being as enjoyable as possible is vastly more important to me.
My brother uses weed for his extreme ADHD because he can't stand stimulants. He wouldn't quit weed for anything he had to once for a month and I felt terrible for him I was honestly afraid he was going to off himself. He uses no other drugs, is incredibly hard working and honest. Has a great family and job. Weed is medicine for some people.
Yep, also have ADHD, stimulants make me more productive and help me work on tasks for longer periods of time but I only think clearly while high lol. All of my best life decisions were made while I was high.
I get that. That’s why I said “it might be worth it” instead of “you should”. I didn’t know the other variables, so I didn’t have a firm conviction.
Crazy I’m kinda the same way, was prescribed a high dose adderall when I was 12 and went cold turkey when I was 25. Couldn’t have done it without weed, truly life changing and for the better.
Just a guess, but I'd think additional changes would be required. Weed is not prescribed. It is "recommended" by providers. I think FDA would need to approve for it to be prescribed.
Considering they already have 2 synthetic cannabinoid drugs approved, I imagine it will largely depend on the pharma industry and that they're essentially just waiting for the DEA to do this. We'll see, exciting times!
Yeah, I'd be surprised to see cannabis flower become a prescribed medicine. Maybe edibles could be prescribed, since there's more control of active ingredients. I also highly doubt any medical approvals will be given to smoking anything.
Only one that is actually prescribed is when it synthetic Delta9 THC like Marinol, and that has been a Schedule III prescription medication since 1998.
That's all I'm hoping for man.
It depends. For instance Alcohol is legal, your employer can still fire you for drinking on the job or coming to work with alcohol in your blood. Most states are at will employment, your employer has no obligation to employ you. In most states your employer could say you can’t take anti depressants and work there. It’s 100% legal to discriminate based on medications
Turns out the guy below you is right, medications are actually covered under ADA and cannot be used in hiring decisions, nor be aware of any besides those which may affect job function
“Nor be aware of any besides those which may effect job function” - Correct, which leaves a giant gray area As for being used in hiring decisions, I don’t think people realize you have no way of proving what was used. There are entire companies that exist which run background checks not compliant with things like FCRA and employers use them because you, as the applicant, can’t prove anything. You’re just going to be told you didn’t get the position. Not you didn’t get it because of “x”
I know it seems counterproductive, but this is great news. The unfortunate reality of politics in our country is that things take time and never happen logically or straight forward. We all felt the same way during the Farm Bill in 2018, and look where we are now. Multiple states have already legalized weed, and illegal states have the THCA loophole, but the looming threat of breaking federal law has held us back for a long time. For people in illegal states like myself, this is HUGE! Smoke one today for the great news!!!
>the THCA loophole Which illegal states are now very actively trying to ban. One of the few cannabis related laws that they're actually taking serious
Still can’t believe how stupid Texas is I take that back, I believe the stupidity part - it’s the fact that lawmakers are staring at a massive money-making opportunity with how much land Texas has and are instead trying to double-down on illegality.
It might point to the fact that those who oppose legality often have a vested interest in the illegal side
Or the ones vested in the already legal and largely more dangerous side--alcohol
Also have interests in maintaining existing/maximum pharmaceutical profits Not just an interest, fiduciary duty, to make as much money as possible Honestly if their staff were not lobbying the government against this, then they could get fired for not doing their job That situation is fucking up this country in various industries and institutions. Like environmental & climate justice nonprofits Their staff have fiduciary duty to try and make atrophied protest turnout seem super powerful, and their campaigns that only get ideological victories are proclaimed to be major wins. Because if they don't act that way, they might lose grant money. They have to make it look good for the funders (instead of shareholders, in this instance). Also have to make it look good because the emails are always asking for donations. Sunrise Movement did this the other day, sent an email saying look at all our victories. If you actually click through the link, they really didn't win anything. :/ * Dallas free transit for students, already a thing in tons of cities. The win is 'improving culture of public transit' * 'Green New Deal for college' at U of FL, but it's only a student govt vote & has to be board approved - which we've seen them not comply with many times before. Quoted saying student govt has 'free reign' to spend millions in student org money, but obviously there's existing group spending they're not going to cut off funding for. * GND for schools in DC, article outright says it's really just an ideological endorsement
Prison money smells better than Freedom money.
Not to mention the opportunities prohibition provides the police state to subvert the Constitution
If you aren't part of the solution, there is money to be made prolonging the problem.
Not all, just some. Alabama has embraced everything hemp. I think our governor likes it as is because she doesn't have to listen to us bitch for rec.
Well the argument is always kids safety and kids really are getting their hands on some unregulated stuff. If they just legalized it and required ID, it would be way safer. But instead of legalizing they're just going after thca
Yea I've heard Tennessee is trying to write it into legality so there's no gray area and to regulate it. But i haven't heard anything about that in about a year
Here in Alabama when hemp was made federally legal the governor legalized it here by EOD. She said she'd do the same thing if weed is legalized. When states started banning she made a speech about how profitable hemp has been in Alabama and it would always be welcome here. MeeMaw Ivey got that right, at least.
Yup, GA passed legislation banning THCA last month. Just waiting on Kemp's signature now.
Amazing how quickly they can pass a law to take more away
FL is in the same spot. Sitting on Desantis Desk for at least 1.5 months so far.
It's unfortunate, I was just getting used to the legal life too, but GA will have until Oct 1st at least. DeSantis definitely going to sign?
Then you've got Illinois where Marijuana is so expensive at dispensaries and THCa companies are making a killing here.
In ny they legalized it years ago but barely any dispensaries have opened up because of a bunch of legal bullshit.
Agreed!! I've been puffing tough for 30 years. Reside in the legal state but I'm very happy for all my fellow weed folks. ✌️
“For overdose deaths, marijuana is always in the lowest ranking among comparator drugs,” it said. Yeah cause zero is a pretty low number.
Actually kinda in the middle as far as all numbers go
So it totally should be schedule 3 like ketamine lol 🤷♂️
So what is going to be different? Can individual states refuse to follow?
Right now, all "legal" use is federal illegal. This change allows Congress to decriminalize and also means that the sell and use is not completely federal prohibited so banks should be more willing to allow transactions.
And CDL holders can finally smoke off shift :)
Most legal states still prohibit those that operate heavy machinery or hold a CDL from testing positive unfortunately, this won't change that.
If I’m not mistaken, this is due to federal DOT requirements not state regulations
Bingo, if you have an active CDL I believe you’re in the DOT pool for randoms.
Until they’re sued for discrimination. Shouldn’t be any different than other prescriptions which state to not use machinery when under the influence. DUIs will exist but they can’t single out marijuana against other narcotics.
It's not singled out. You aren't allowed to take other prescription drugs with a CDL. I considered signing for a CDL job to preempt this decision but after I did some research it seems like DOT rules are unlikely to change until there's a way to determine intoxication levels like alcohol
You can't publicly study schedule-one drugs or use them/their byproducts (hemp) in industrial production (like toilet paper).
The biggest difference imo is the ability for more research to be done. Which will take time, but can lead to larger strides. The federal govt moves slow, but this is a big step in the right direction
Correction: They move slow when it benefits us but move faster than lightning when it benefits them
Remember a couple years ago when congress fast tracked millions of dollars of benefits for CIA and embassy staff who got hangover symptoms from the supposed “Havana syndrome”
[удалено]
Hopefully this opens up a lot of funding for cannabis research.
Progress is cool but let me know when I can smoke Friday night without being fired Monday morning
For real. It could be "legal" in all 50 states. But if I can still lose my job over it, it's still illegal as far as I'm concerned.
I categorically agree. It should have the same status as alcohol, a far more dangerous drug.
Too bad it's a life changing medication for a lot of disabled workers. For some reason oxycodone, gabapentin, and clonazepam together as a nurse is okay!
I give it like 20 years in America time
We said that 20 years ago
I think people from 20 years ago would be impressed with the progress made so far
So, since this will be classified as schedule III now, does that mean a "normal" doctor will be able to "prescribe" cannabis? Since it is going to be in the same category as testosterone, what would be the practical difference?
I'm hoping to see this reschedule do just that. I don't think we've been able to have the certified trials and tests required for prescription status. Plus, that data is needed to get regular doctors on board. As always in private industry, even if a doctor CAN doesn't mean they will
Looks like we got the first down rather than the touchdown, but I'll take it! Of course, that implies for us that we cannot stop. KEEP THE DRIVE ALIVE! This is great news, but we need to keep going!
Not just any first down, this was a 20 yard gain, we’re within field goal distance now
We are in the red zone baby with a 1st down, lets keep the push alive!!
[“Marijuana legalization is on the goal line!”](https://youtu.be/QEEDwRrHujs?si=CMuB1976cMYW4ff5)
*cries in Indiana*
Keeping it at schedule 3 when Valium and Xans are schedule 4 is absolutely insane.
That was literally my thought as well. Weed is not worse than freaking benzodiazepines.
Benzos are some of the most dangerous easily accessible drugs out there. I’ve seen Xanax completely ruin lives.
They are not easily accessible I can’t even get it prescribed for a severe panic issue they keep trying to just give me hydroxizine or some bs that doesn’t work
My sleep is garbage thanks to my ptsd and I bhad a sleep doctor years ago prescribe me Klonopin and it gave me the best sleep I got in years. I got out of the military and the VA aggressively hated that I was on a benzo which I understand and they’ve since prescribed me a ton of different sleep meds but none of them are as good as Klonopin was. I never felt any addiction to it either. I’m hoping the next civilian doc I see will be a liiiiiiitle more open to prescribing it to me.
Can you try a different doctor at the VA? They gave me Klonopin with zero issue. Well only a slight lecture about cannabis still being illegal yadda yadda
I wish I could get one for emergency use I didn’t even consider it I hated the thought of benzos til my panick go worse to the point it basically ends my day if it happens and they still won’t give me it
Bruh same with the hydroxyzine like what the fuck I'm not congested (yes I know antihistamines can help with anxiety they dont for me).
Same with my wife. They gave her a bunch of hydroxizine and it’s about as effective as Benadryl.
I hope the rescheduling leads to companies not being able to drug test for it, and to remove it from federal repercussion. That way I can look into the soul of the company I work for and smile knowing there is nothing they can do anymore.
It seems like to me that’ll be the case at least for people with a medical card… would love a lawyer or anyone with knowledge of this stuff to chime in though
Insurance companies are largely responsible for drug screen programs, especially workers comp.
I do too but I’m not hopeful. I’m guessing nothing will change for companies that still test for it.
How does this impact the ability of medical users of cannabis to possess firearms I wonder?
It'll be a big win in that regard
One step closer to my retirement dream of owning a lot of guns and smoking a lot of weed
What schedule drug is alcohol?
It's not.
Alcohol and tobacco are explicitly exempted in the Controlled Substances Act which prohibits cannabis. The law also explicitly says that cannabis has to be schedule 1 unless otherwise scheduled. So until Congress actually updates the law, it can't be descheduled.
why can't they just add weed to the exemption list? i'm sorry, *this is fucking paperwork.*
Which is bat shit insane. I'm a first responder and have seen first hand sooo many times what alcohol can do to a person. Head on collision DUI, falling down a flight of stairs, bar brawls, so, so, so many stupid decisions and lives destroyed over such a widely socially accepted substance. Such a backwards country we live in for our govt to praise booze and still keep cannabis locked down.
america 10% closer to legalization
So this *should* mean that a medical card exempts you from employment THC drug tests, right? That sounds like it’d be the main benefit to people like us. A huge one if I’m interpreting this correctly
That it's still scheduled at all is such an utter loss. It's been so long.
Gee they were lying about the dangers of cannabis all the time, I wonder what other drugs they've been lying about... Oh I know exactly which ones. “You want to know what this \[war on drugs\] was really all about? The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people. You understand what I’m saying? We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.” ^(\~ John Ehrlichman,) *^(Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs under President Richard Nixon)*
This isn't enough. It doesn't fully declassify marijuana, which means recreational use is still illegal. We still live in a country where alcohol is considered safer than cannabis.
Just fucking legalize it already on the federal level. Changing the scheduling only helps a little
But it is a significant admission that the drugs were scheduled incorrectly. That took like 50 years. The fact that cannabis and LSD are classified as schedule 1 drugs is proof that the schedules were politicized with no scientific backing.
The entire scheduling thing is bullshit. The entire drug war is bullshit. Heroin has tons of medical value, it is uses medically around the world. Diamorphine works better than morphine, and lasts far longer than fentanyl, and is far harder to OD on than fentanyl.
How is weed a schedule 1 but valium and xanax are schedule 4? The ratings make no fucking sense.
Lobbying?
Can someone explain this in simple terms for me I don’t really understand the politics or legalities I’m sorry :(
https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling Banks will now incur less risk when dealing with weed businesses.
The federal government's classification on cannabis is changing from 'this pure evil with no use whatsoever' to 'ok it has some medical uses, and can be researched'. It's also a step in the direction of decriminalizing and legalizing it at a federal level.
Major step! This is historic! Everyone get in here!
Anyone else think this will benefit Pharma companies trying to sell THC products and not actually benefit any individuals?
I think pharma cannabinoids (epidiolex, dronabinol) have been schedule III, so this move doesnt change anything in that regard
I like a good local craft beer over a Budweiser any day.
And honestly craft beer has done just fine despite the large corps printing money. Small scale weed farms should still thrive
In Florida, many of the hemp shops I frequent say they'll be out of business/closing by October, due to the lobbying TruLieve has been doing to make it a medical only state. I wonder how this plays into that?
Florida is also voting on legalization this year as a voters referendum.
Wouldn’t a reschedule (as opposed to a deschedule) mean that cannabis would then be an approved medication and pull nearly all products off the market that are currently sold in an OTC manner?
Buying stock now.
Too late probably lol Edit: Tilray up 40% within an hour
Now zoom out 5 years. Down 99% from ath. Weed stocks are more volatile than B tier crypto.
Stock in what??
Joe Biden
Dank Brandon!
Joe Budin
Any weed stock, hoping for a boom I would imagine.
Weed
holy shit a headline in r/trees that starts with "BREAKING" and is about something actually happening and not someone implying that there's a chance that it will be considered
We shouldn't need a law enforcement agency to determine what half the union has already passed. The people have spoken already. Fuck the dea, disband the DEA.
Will this make it easier for me to get a medical card?? I live in an illegal state and have had my life effected a lot from getting arrested for possession. To have a chance to atleast got into a medical dispensary and to buy a vape pen (for smell purposes) would be huge for me
I doubt it will be like med programs have been. This also gives the government more say into how that medicine is distributed and in what form. I bet you anything it’ll come down to pills and suppositories
>suppositories So boofing will ascend past meme and into reality 🤔
Once the drug companies take over it'll probably be available like other schedule 3 drugs.
Crime is big business in the US. Can’t legalize this and impact that
So does this still mean nothing for me in Iowa where it's still illegal? Will I be able to get a med card for dispensary use or home grow, or will it stay the same because it's illegal in the state?
There are plenty of schedule iii substances you can obtain with a script in Iowa. So yes you should be able to do the same with this.
Holy shit
Wow that’s nuts, to put it in schedule three is to say it’s the same addiction and dependence possibility as buprenorphine, which is just straight false.
I take buprenorphine and can tell you it absolutely belongs in schedule 3 scheduling, cannabis belongs on schedule 5 really just unscheduled lol
Wow! Maybe Texas can finally make it legal to consume! LOL IM JK TEXAS SUCKS!
Is this great news? So it’ll be like a prescription. Which means through a pharmacy? Which begs the question of insurance. Which leads to the thought of what would they charge for weed when someone doesn’t have insurance that covers it. Not saying it can’t be good but there are definitely reasons they’re into this idea and it’s not simply “the people deserve to smoke freely” and it’s probably more like “they’ve had a good run but we can really profit from this so let’s corner the market like we do with all pharmacy related scheduled things” Obviously it could go a number of ways but imagine thinking the government is doing something you’re gonna like lol
Headline is a little misleading. It still has a few steps to go through till it’s finalized.
Schedule III? 🤷♂️ wtf ever. Fuck the dea 🖕 Edit: fyi, schedule 3 is ketamine, codeine, hydros, anabolic steroids, suboxone. I can’t remember but can you go to jail for illegally possessing any of those? Exactly.
Oh wow, would you look at that! Just in time for election season. Crazy! Like someone planned it.
Thanks Biden
Who gives a fuck. Now their friends can sell it to us with a huge markup? Politicians need to legalize it fully or STFU.
Does this mean I'll eventually get to stop worrying about getting fired from my office job for consuming it during my off-hours
Misleading title: nothing is set in motion yet, they just agree it's a good idea
So what does this mean for me as a resident of Indiana? I presume it will still be illegal but to what degree?
I think this means Kaiser will stop threatening to withhold my adderall Rx if I smoke weed
I went to my dispensary today and was wondering why everyone was in such a good mood.
Will finally be allowed to get high in Nation Forest?
Dank Brandon
Take it totally off the scheduled list!
LEGALIZE IT ALREADY
Thanks Obiden
Shoutout Democrats