Local reaction to Trump’s plan to sign executive order reclassifying marijuana
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order reclassifying marijuana, easing federal restrictions on the drug.
In a press conference Monday President Trump said reclassifying it would allow more research to be done on marijuana and its possible uses.
“A lot of people want to see it, the reclassification, because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can’t be done unless you reclassify. So we are looking at that very strongly,” Trump said.
Current classification dates to 1970
The Drug Enforcement Administration has five categories for drug scheduling, with the most dangerous being schedule 1 and the least dangerous schedule 5.
Since 1970, marijuana has been classified as a schedule 1 drug along with other drugs like heroin, LSD and ecstasy.
But soon it could be reclassified to schedule three. Zach Metz, the owner of a local dispensary called the Gass Shack, says this reclassification is a good thing.
“All that does is acknowledge the plant’s medicinal value, and also kind of allows the government more opportunities to know how to regulate the plant,” Metz said.
Congressman opposes move
However, Congressman Pete Sessions says this is a dangerous move.
“Any sheriff or police chief would say that it is one of the most dangerous, addictive products that we have,” Sessions said.
He further explained that attempts to reclassify the drug have been made in the past, but were unsuccessful.
“No one believes we need more research on marijuana, not republicans and not democrats,” Sessions shared.
Research debate continues
Metz argues that their research is outdated.
“That’s why I think the research and the reclassification is gonna do major major benefits for the industry, it’s gonna allow these false claims of the plant to just eliminate and dissipate,” Metz said.
He added that reclassification only loosens federal restrictions, meaning it won’t really have an impact on them.
“It’s not legalizing cannabis at all on a recreational level and/or you know interstate commerce or anything like that, but it is one step closer in the right direction,” Metz said.
Which is what Sessions says he’s afraid of, sharing that he and other members of Congress have expressed their concerns with the White House.
“This is a bad idea and a dangerous thing, and dealing with Delta-9, THC, or these gummies, or trying to have more research is simply a waste of money,” Sessions said.
Despite their protests, a senior White House official confirmed that the president will sign an executive order Thursday to reclassify marijuana.
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