Washington, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), founding member of the Cannabis Caucus, released the following statement after reports of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) moving towards reclassification of marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule III.

“For over 50 years marijuana has been treated the same as significantly more dangerous and harmful drugs like heroin and methamphetamines despite having fewer adverse outcomes than alcohol,” said Rep. Titus. “I applaud the Biden Administration’s decision to reclassify the drug in a way that will allow researchers to more easily study the uses and benefits of medical marijuana. This decision would also allow legal cannabis businesses, like those in Nevada, to operate with significantly less tax burden and contribute more to local economies.”

Background

Rep. Titus has been a long-time advocate to adjust outdated policy on marijuana in Congress.

Earlier this Congress, Rep. Titus introduced the Higher Education Marijuana Research Act of 2023, legislation that would eliminate obstacles to the academic research on cannabis, protect universities and researchers who study it, and promote the responsible study of marijuana.

On April 24, 2024, Rep. Titus joined colleagues from the House and Senate urging U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram to remove marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) which this decision will do.