Obama announces that cannabis reforms are not on his agenda for 2016

Cannabis advocates who were expecting a a turning point in federal politics Cannabis enthusiasts have every reason to be disappointed.

During a press briefing last Friday, White House Press Secretary John Earnest announced that any federal changes regarding cannabis must go through Congress. This means that Obama will not exercise his presidential powers to force through a potential federal legalization of cannabis in the United States.

Republican Senator Steve Cohen also asked him if he planned to declassify cannabis from Schedule 1 (Schedule 1) from Schedule I, which includes the most dangerous and addictive drugs, and move it to Schedule II, which would recognize the plant’s medical potential. Obama’s response is also very clear on this point: «If you can get a bill on my desk, I’ll would sign »probably.".

John Earnest clarified this position: «Some people in the Democratic Party have pushed the president to make this kind of decision.» The president’s response was: ‘If you’re so sure of what you’re proposing, and you believe you have the public’s support, why don’t you try to pass this bill, and we’ll see what happens.’”.

Obama’s approach is bound to frustrate American activists, who criticize the president for speaking openly on the subject but failing to demonstrate a federal commitment to changing the current provisions.

At the same time DEA is currently reviewing the reclassification or not to decriminalize cannabis. But historically, the DEA has never taken any steps toward decriminalization. «Four petitions that were filed to reclassify cannabis or remove it from these schedules entirely were denied or shelved by the DEA, with processing times ranging from 5 to 20 years,», the Brookings Institution noted,

The latest opinion polls show not only broad support for cannabis reform, but also clear support for legalization: 58% of Americans want to see cannabis legalized, according to the latest Gallup poll. And a 2015 CBS News poll reported that 84% of Americans support the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes.

Moving cannabis to Schedule 2 of the Controlled Substances Act is a somewhat more modest step than full legalization or the legalization of medical cannabis. It would simply remove certain barriers to research on the uses of cannabis—barriers that are currently stifling research.