DEA could reclassify cannabis this summer

July could mark the end of the «War on Drugs» in the United States. In a 25-page letter to US Senators, the Drug Enforcement Administration (the American DEA) says it wants to decide on reclassifying cannabis within the Controlled Substances Act (the CSA regulates the production, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain substances, including cannabis) before July 2016. The legal landscape of cannabis in the United States could change dramatically as early as June.

This letter from the DEA was in response to Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and 7 other senators who questioned the federal government on the search for the potential medical benefits of cannabis. Cannabis is currently classified on List 1 (Schedule 1) for drugs in the United States, which means that the federal government officially defines cannabis as a substance of no medical value, and as dangerous as heroin.

Yet half the country disputes this federal classification, 23 states have legalized medical cannabis to treat conditions such as arthritis and epilepsy.

What this reclassification means

There are 5 different Schedules within the CSA. The DEA could leave cannabis in List 1 alongside heroin, put it in List 2 alongside oxycodone, or reclassify it in List 5.

It's probably a bit naive to think that the DEA will move from a complete ban on cannabis to a legal pharmacy market. A move from List 1 to List 2 would already facilitate cannabis research and donations to fund universities to study the substance. And in the process, new medical uses for cannabis could be found.

Will it really happen?

The US has no shortage of support for reclassifying or outright removing cannabis from the CSA. Presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are also calling for reform. American activists also recently organized a smoke-in in front of the White House to protest against the current classification of cannabis.

To date, the DEA has repeatedly rejected petitions to reclassify cannabis since its arrival on List 1 in 1972. Current DEA chief Chuck Rosenberg recently admitted that «heroin is clearly more dangerous than cannabis». But last September, he rejected the idea of removing cannabis from the drug list, and sparked controversy two months later by designating medical marijuana joke.

A radical change therefore seems unlikely, but Rosenberg may surprise us by classifying cannabis in List 2. If he doesn't, Obama may yet reclassify cannabis, by overriding the DEA's decision using its executive powers.

All that's left now is to wait until July to see if a decision is taken to make radical changes.