Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) welcomed the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg’s acknowledgement that “heroin is clearly more dangerous than marijuana,” and called on the Department of Justice to reclassify or de-schedule marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act.
In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Representative Blumenauer wrote:
“We are in the midst of a revolution to reform and modernize marijuana policy in the United States. Four states and the District of Columbia have legalized adult use. Additionally, well over one million patients across the country now use medical marijuana at the recommendation of their physician to treat conditions ranging from seizures, glaucoma, anxiety, chronic pain and nausea. The federal government is woefully behind.
“I fully support and agree with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg’s statement on August 5, 2015, that ‘heroin is clearly more dangerous than marijuana.’ This statement is backed by decades of scientific evidence, and rapidly growing public support recognizing that marijuana has been treated as a highly dangerous substance for far too long.
“As you know, under the Controlled Substances Act, there are five schedules for controlled drugs. Schedule I is for drugs that the DEA defines as having a high potential for abuse and no medical value. Heroin, LSD and marijuana are all in this category. Methamphetamine and cocaine are less severely categorized as Schedule II drugs. It is clear to the American people, scientists and researchers that marijuana should not be categorized as a Schedule I drug.
“In light of the statement by the head of the DEA, a senior Justice Department official, and recognition of marijuana’s medical value, I urge you to initiate the process under your authority to reschedule or de-schedule marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act to reflect science and the government’s position on this issue.”
